Burlington 2017 Rain Barrel Program

March 2017, Burlington, Ma –The Town of Burlington is partnering with the Great American Rain Barrel Company in Hyde Park, MA to offer rain barrels to residents as part of a conservation and sustainability program.

“We are bringing Rain Barrels to residents to help manage rising water costs, save vegetation from drought conditions and help our community protect its aquifers,” says John Keeley, Burlington Conservation Department in Burlington. “We want residents to use rain barrels because they are an effective way to collect and save water”. Residents that use a rain barrel collect as much as 1500 gallons in a season. This will save existing or new landscaping when a dry spell hits and supplement outdoor water usage, which spikes during the growing season. Water collected in rain barrels can be used even if there is an outdoor water ban, as is currently the case in Burlington and much of the state. Rain barrels are also important to reduce runoff. Runoff from homes and developments can harm existing water sources because they flood storm drains and discharge pollutants. Rain barrels are chlorine free and an excellent source of water for plants and gardens.

Barrels are easily connected to the downspouts and fill quickly. 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, which means that an average roof of 2400 square feet could see more than 20,000 gallons of fresh rainwater splashing over its surface during that time period. That is a 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 1/5” of rainfall. The Great American Rain Barrel Company recommends one barrel for every 100 square feet of garden. Multiple barrels are easily linked together for additional collection and storage.

Burlington chose the Great American Rain Barrel Company because of their durability, functionality and tried and true reputation. The barrels are offered in three colors: Forest Green, Earth Brown or Nantucket Gray at the low cost of $69 – all 40% off the retail price of $119. This price is an additional $10 lower because the town is handling the distribution.

To take advantage of this offer please visit www.greatamericanrainbarrel.com, search Community Programs and look for your town or contact via email info@tgarb.com, or phone (800)251-2352. Prepaid barrels will be available for pick up: Saturday, May 20th, 8:00-11:00 am at the Town Hall Parking Lot, 29 Center St., Burlington MA. Deadline for purchase is May 13th, 5:00pm.