Medford’s Rain Barrel Program Returns for 2021 by Jackie Piques

 3:58 pm Friday 3/12/21  1,808,305 all-time views

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Medford’s Rain Barrel Program Returns for 2021 by Jackie Piques Residents can pre-order Rain Barrels through April 21st. The City of Medford will be offering rain barrels at a highly discounted price again in 2021. In partnership with The Great American Rain Barrel Co., the City is working to safely provide residents with an opportunity to save money and help the city manage its water supplies.  Why Use Rain Barrels? Rainwater barrels are a sure-fire way to collect water free of added chemicals without hassle. These 60-gallon barrels, offered at the discounted price of $69, can pay for themselves in one season; rain barrel owners save an estimated $200 in annual water bills. Use these barrels to repurpose rainwater to water stressed trees and gardens during dry spells. Additionally, collected rainwater has the added benefit of limiting stormwater runoff, which takes pressure off of community storm drains and prevents untreated pollutants from directly entering our waterways. Rain barrels are an easy and fun way for families to tap into environmental practice. Children can learn how to harvest rain and runoff from their home’s downspouts and use the water for plant projects. Rain barrels are also great to use as an outdoor water source to top off your pool or wash your car. About the Rain Barrels The Great American Rain Barrels are made from 100% repurposed, food grade shipping drums made in Massachusetts! The barrels can last for years with proper maintenance and winterization. For those worried about mosquitos, the rain barrel comes with a removable mesh screen that is easy to clean and keeps pests out. Setting them up for collection is simple (takes maybe five minutes). There are several helpful tutorials on the Great American Rain Barrel Co. website. Barrels come in several colors: Earth Brown, Forest green, and Nantucket Gray. Also available unpainted. How to Order To find out more about the barrels and participate in The Great American Rain Barrel Program, please visit www.greatamericanrainbarrel.com/community/ and select ‘Medford.’ Barrels are offered for $69, and will be available for pick up on Wednesday April 28th, 5:00-7:00pm at Medford High School, 489 Winthrop St. Deadline for purchase is midnight on Wednesday, April 21st. -- About the Great American Rain Barrel The Great American Rain Barrel is a local food importing company that has been repurposing shipping drums into Rain Barrels since 1988. Last year, 30% of Massachusetts Cities and Towns partnered with The Great American Rain Barrel Co., selling over 3000 barrels. The Great American Rain Barrel Co. has been an approved vendor by the MASS DEP since 2010. For more information, contact Suzanne Gebelein, (800) 251-2352, Info@tgarb.com. -- Medford city services are available to all residents, regardless of economic situation, immigration status, ability, benefit eligibility, or religious affiliation.     Jackie Piques | March 12, 2021 at 2:35 pm | URL: https://www.medfordma.org/?p=22316   Trouble clicking? Copy and paste this URL into your browser: https://www.medfordma.org/2021/03/12/medfords-rain-barrel-program-returns-for-2021/