By Jessica Brodkin Webb
Staff Writer
The nonprofit Solana Center for Environmental Innovation and the county are providing free rain barrels to unincorporated county residents in an effort to encourage rain water harvesting while saving on water bills.
Solana Center for Environmental Innovation’s Program Manager Jackie Bookstein said the rain barrels provide an easy way to conserve water for reuse in watering outdoor plants and landscaping.
Unlike graywater produced by home use in showers and sinks, collected rainwater does not contain any additives beyond what it gathers during roof runoff.
Additionally, reducing runoff from driveways, streets, and sidewalks can prevent harmful pollutants from reaching beaches and waterways.
According to San Diego Coastkeeper, runoff water that flows over man-made surfaces may originate as rainwater, landscape irrigation and water leaks that flow over hard city surfaces and pick up pollutants. Those pollutants often include motor oil, grease, pesticides, fertilizer, particulate metals, pet waste, toxins, bacteria, and viruses which then flows into San Diego’s lakes, rivers, bays, and ocean.
By using a home rain barrel, residents can tap into a water source for gardening and landscaping use before it has a chance to travel over miles of filthy surfaces and potentially harm San Diego’s waterways.
One inch of rain yields approximately 600 gallons of water annually for each 1,000 square feet of roof space, depending on the roof’s configuration.
The rain barrels being given out through the program are able to store up to 50 gallons of rainwater for later use and have screened inlet filters to protect the barrels from drawing mosquitoes or releasing debris. The barrels, equipped with a lower port for drainage, also have childproof lids.
Unincorporated county residents can register for a free, informational rain barrel webinar at solanacenter.org, then pick up their free rain barrel after the webinar at one of two distribution events: the Solana Center for Environmental Innovation in Encinitas on Feb. 6 or the Water Conservation Garden in El Cajon on Feb. 12.
Residents can also pre-purchase additional barrels and pick them up at the same time as their free barrel. The barrels are equipped with an extra port so they can be linked together for additional water storage.
Rebates for the purchased barrels are available through the SoCal WaterSmart Rebate program, limited to two barrels per person. More information on that rebate can be found at socalwatersmart.org or by calling (888) 376-3314.
Unincorporated county residents might also qualify for a second rebate through the county. Visit sdcounty.gov for more information.
“Knowing California is in a drought, this is a great opportunity to conserve and reuse all the water we can,” Bookstein said.
