Braintree Launches Discounted Rain Barrel Program

Braintree officials have partnered with the Great American Rain Barrel Company in Hyde Park, MA to offer rain barrels to residents as part of a community wide water conservation program.

“We are happy to be offering this simple, inexpensive, and environmentally
sensitive program to all Braintree residents. The barrels help to provide irrigation water during times when there are restrictions on outside watering and bring down water costs,” said Braintree Mayor Joseph Sullivan. “Like the recycling bin, we hope rain barrels become a standard in each and every home,” noting that he has one at his home.

Water shortage is a growing global concern. In New England residential water
usage can increase as much as 60% during the spring, summer and fall seasons
from outdoor watering needs such as watering gardens, lawns, filling pools and,
washing cars. Barrels can offset that usage; saving homeowner’s money and
helping the community manage water supplies.

Rain barrels can also reduce runoff. Runoff from homes and developments
typically enters town storm drains which discharge to nearby wetlands, lakes or
rivers. Keeping the runoff on site and letting it soak into the lawn or garden over time is an important step in maintaining water quality.

Suzanne Gebelein, Owner of the Great American Rain Barrel Company
comments, “We have been selling barrels for 20 years and we are seeing a
very positive trend. More and more organizations nationwide, like Braintree
are bringing large scale programs to their towns, encouraging more residents
to conserve water but also helping their town mitigate pollution in the water
supplies on a larger scale.”

Homeowners can easily connect the barrels to their downspouts and significantly offset their watering needs. In this region there is typically 16” of rain from May 1st – September 30th. For every inch of rainfall a 1000 square foot surface can collect 620 gallons of water, that means that over the course of the extended summer months an average roof of 2400 square feet could see more than 20,000 gallons of fresh rainwater passing over its surface from May through September.

That is a pretty significant source of water that homeowners could be tapping
into for free. Just keeping a small 10’ x 10’ garden irrigated during the summer
months can mean using up to 1700 gallons of water. Based on the average roof
size, more than two 60 gallon rain barrels would fill for every 1/10” of rainfall.
The Great American Rain Barrel Company recommends one barrel for every 100
square feet garden.

Braintree is offering the Great American Rain Barrel for $69, which is 40% off
the retail price. The barrels come in three colors; Forest Green, Earth Brown or
Nantucket Gray . To take advantage of this community program discount please
visit www.greatamericanrainbarrel.com look for “shop local programs” in the
left side bar, and find “Braintree”, or email info@tgarb.com or call (800)251-
2352. The barrels will be delivered to Braintree Town Hall on Tuesday, May 7th
from 4:00-6:00pm. The deadline for ordering: April 29th 5:00pm. Braintree
Conservation Agent, Kelly Phelan is the administrator of the program.

The Great American Rain Barrel Company is a wholly owned subsidiary of a
Mediterranean specialty food importing business. The barrels are recycled
from 6o gallon shipping drums and distributed to homeowners nationwide. For
information about The Great American Rain Barrel Company and their products
please visit www.greatamericanrainbarrel.com.

–Office of Braintree Mayor