New Pilot Rain Barrel Program to Help Community Save Money and Water

Published on October 04, 2021

The City of Palo Alto has launched a pilot rain barrel program to encourage City residents and businesses to purchase high-quality 50-gallon rain barrels that help conserve water and reduce water pollution.

The pilot program, which runs through Nov. 14, offers rebates for eligible residents and businesses to purchase low-cost rain barrels that are easily maintained and capture water, which helps conserve Hetch Hetchy reservoir water and reduce water pollution in stormwater runoff. The City partnered with RainWater Solutions to acquire barrels in bulk from the manufacturer, which enabled staff to offer rain barrels for $80 (pre-tax) each, a 40 percent discount from the $132 retail value. In addition, the City and Valley Water offer a combined $70 rebate per rain barrel to eligible residents and businesses. For those who receive a rebate, the cost for a rain barrel will be $10 (excluding tax) during the limited pilot period. During this pilot program, rebate applications will be accepted within 14 days from the date of purchase.

Since California is experiencing dry weather conditions, and the Governor has asked water customers to reduce water usage by 15 percent, having a low-cost way to conserve water is important. Capturing rainwater during the upcoming wet winter months offsets potable water used for irrigation. For every half-inch of rain that falls on a 500 square foot roof area, a rain barrel can collect 155 gallons. With an average annual rainfall of 16 inches in Palo Alto, the savings can really add up!

Beyond the water conservation and financial benefits, capturing rainwater also improves the water quality of our local creeks and the San Francisco Bay.

“Installing rain barrels on downspouts that drain to paved surfaces reduces the amount of runoff entering local creeks and the Bay,” stated Pam Boyle Rodriguez, Stormwater Compliance Program Manager. “Stormwater flows directly into our local waterways without filtration or treatment. So keeping runoff on-site and reducing what flows to streets and roads improves water quality.”

Order rain barrels online at rainbarrelprogram.org/paloalto now through Nov. 14, 2021. Barrels can be picked up after purchase at the distribution event on Saturday, Dec. 4, from 9 a.m. to 12 p.m. at the Municipal Services Center located at 3201 East Bayshore Road in Palo Alto. Learn about more the City of Palo Alto stormwater capture rebates for rain gardens, cisterns, and pervious pavement.

Order a rain barrel