Investing in a rain barrel in San Diego may seem like an exercise in wishful thinking, but the city Storm Water Department is so sure it’s a good deal that it will help pay for it.
The department will reimburse 50 cents per gallon of rain barrel storage to residents who install the vessels at their homes, for a total rebate of up to $200.
The barrels connect to a home’s gutter spout and capture water flowing from the roof to irrigate yards and gardens. Rainwater harvesting is a technique dating to the Greek and Roman empires, where sophisticated collection systems captured rainwater for domestic and agricultural use.
In San Diego, rainwater collection can help preserve potable water for indoor use, officials say.
“Over 60 percent of S.D. water is used to water landscape, turf and other plants,” said Maureen Hall, a water conservation analyst for the Public Utilities Department. “Whatever small percentage we can save per person, per residence, is going to add up to a good amount of savings for San Diego. That’s more water for us to use for drinking, for bathing, for cooking.”
Collecting the water before it spills down streets and sewers also helps prevent stormwater pollution, Hall said.
Although the San Diego region only gets about 10 inches of rain per year, a 1,000-square-foot roof collects 625 gallons for every inch of rainfall.
A typical rain barrel holds 50 to 200 gallons, and easily fills up in a single storm, Hall said. Even the condensation from foggy nights and dewy mornings can top off a barrel, she said. Her own rain barrel collected enough precipitation to water her rose garden all summer, she added.
The rain barrel rebate, introduced early this year, has paid $6,285 in rebates to help install 115 barrels at 57 homes.
For information, call (619) 533-4126 or visit utsandiego.com/rainwater.
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