Wakefield’s Public Works Department Offers Discounted Rain Barrel Program

Press release from the Town of Wakefield:

March 1, 2021

Spring begins this month! If you’re looking forward to green grass and colorful blooms, visit www.wakefield.ma.us/rain-barrel and take advantage of the Public Works Department’s annual rain barrel discount program. From now until May 13, residents can purchase a Great American Rain Barrel (GARB) for $69. These barrels are produced in Massachusetts and are 100 percent repurposed. According to GARB, it takes less than 1/8 inch of rain to fill a well-situated 60-gallon barrel.

“Rain barrels are a great way to conserve water and help maintain landscaping during dry spells,” notes Ann Waitt, Business Manager, Wakefield Public Works Department. “They are also a form of Green Infrastructure as they capture rainfall for productive onsite re-use. This helps to save energy at treatment plants, lower municipal water demands, and improve residential stormwater management. This has been a very popular program in previous years and we are pleased to offer it again in 2021.”

Last year, people planted more vegetable and herb gardens than in previous years. According to Garden Center Magazine’s Industry Report for 2020, sales from vegetable plants and herbs increased more than 15 percent from 2019. A rain barrel’s chemical-free water can be used for vegetable gardens, as well as flowers, shrubs, and lawns.

Barrels will be available for pick up on Thursday, May 20, from 5 to 7 p.m. at the Wakefield Public Works Facility on North Avenue. Deadline for purchase is May 13, 2021 at midnight.

The Great American Rain Barrel is a local food importing company that has been repurposing shipping drums into Rain Barrels since 1988. The Great American Rain Barrel Co. has been an approved vendor by the MASS DEP since 2010.

This press release was produced by the Town of Wakefield. The views expressed here are the author’s own.