Rain Barrels Water Down Utility Bills

Most people who lived through the Depression Era wasted nothing, including old pickle or whiskey barrels which they transformed into rain barrels to water their gardens. Today's environmentalist and recyclable-savvy enthusiasts are taking advantage of the same concept.

For at least four years has offered 55-gallon rain barrels made of recycled plastic as a way to offer a simply efficient opportunity for homeowners to collect and recycle water.

For $65, this low-cost method of collecting free water saves money on the monthly utility bill. The rain barrel comes equipped with a spigot that can hook up to a garden hose that stretches around the nearby landscape to water rows of vegetables, vines or any variety of flowers, shrubs or plants.

Another splash of good news is that rain water is free to the consumer and free of chlorine, calcium and lime, which is often found in various amounts in potable water, township supervisor Bill McCollum said.

At the same time, it's a natural way to ensure that plants can thrive, McCollum said.

And considering the recent heat wave—the hottest beginning of July in 101 years, according to WGN Meteorologist Tom Skilling—any opportunity to conserve water is seen by McCollum as a positive step.

McCollum added that the rationale behind the rain barrel concept is to "hold enough" to water the plants, top off the swimming pool, wash the car or the dog without tapping into the community's supply of potable water. The average homeowner uses "approximately 40 percent" of household water in the yard during the summer months, he said.

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The practice of collecting a mineral-rich source of water and using it for ordinary purposes can have an impact on the water quality in the rivers and streams and help reduce flooding, said  Ron Sly, director of operations at the Village of New Lenox.

Relying on natural rain water rather than soaking the earth unnecessarily with a hose that runs from the house, creates a scenario in which it is far less likely that runoff would reach the rivers and streams or just dump into the sewer system.

However, New Lenox Village Sprinkling Regulations state that lawns being watered with traditional sprinkler systems need about 1 inch every three or four days. Over-saturation of the soil serves only to ignore conservation methods and causes unnecessary runoff.  

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