Westborough – The Town of Westborough is partnering with the Great American Rain Barrel Company in Hyde Park to offer recycled barrels to residents as part of a community-wide water conservation program.
The company is offering the barrels at a reduced cost to Westborough residents. Barrels can offset the cost of watering gardens and lawns, filling pools and washing cars, saving homeowner's money and helping the community manage water supplies. Rain barrels can also reduce runoff. In watershed areas,?runoff from homes and developments can?harm existing water sources because overtaxed storm sewers discharge polluted runoff.
“We have been selling barrels for 20 years and we are seeing a very positive trend,” said Suzanne Gebelein, owner of the Great American Rain Barrel Company. “More and more communities nationwide, like Westborough,? 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.”
According to Gebelein, homeowners can easily connect the barrels to their downspouts and significantly offset their watering needs. In this region, there is typically 16 inches of rain from May 1 – September 30. For every inch of rainfall a 1,000-square-foot surface can collect 620 gallons of water, she said.
Westborough is offering the Great American Rain Barrel in three colors at the cost of $65 versus the retail price of $119. To take advantage of this program, visit www.greatamericanrainbarrel.com, click on “Shop Local Programs,” then “Westborough.” Residents may also email [email protected] or call 800-251-2352.
Barrels will be available for pick up Monday, May 5, through Friday, May 9, 7 a.m. – 4 p.m. at the Westborough Department of Public Works, 131 Oak St. The deadline for ordering is April 6 at 5 p.m. For more information about the Great American Rain Barrel Company, visit www.greatamericanrainbarrel.com.
