FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
September 3, 2015
Contact: Stephanie Duer, Water Conservation Program Manager
SALT LAKE CITY— Residents and media representatives are invited to join Mayor Ralph Becker and the Salt Lake Public Utilities Department on Friday, Sept. 4 at 10 a.m. at 180 T Street for an announcement of the City’s new Rain Barrel Initiative and a demonstration on use of the barrels at a typical residence.
The initiative is designed to encourage and assist customers in making efficient use of the area’s shared, and limited, water resources.
The 60-gallon rain barrels will be available for purchase at cost ($68) by households within the Salt Lake City Public Utilities’ service area that have participated in the free Water Check Program by completing a sprinkler audit. The Water Check Program is offered through Salt Lake City’s partnership with Utah State University and the Metropolitan Water District, and provides information about growing healthy, attractive lawns while using less water.
“The new rain barrel program, launching in connection with our long-running Water Check Program, helps provide residents both the tools and knowledge to make responsible water-use decisions,” said Mayor Becker.
Jeff Niermeyer, Department of Public Utilities Director, said the Rain Barrel Initiative is an excellent addition to an already robust City water conservation program. The Initiative will be incorporated into the Water Check Program, which already provides value to the community and ongoing research on landscape water use patterns.
“Linking our initial rain barrel offering to the Water Check Program gives us the framework and opportunity to evaluate how rain barrels help achieve conservation goals,” said Niermeyer.
To purchase a rain barrel, eligible households should contact Stephanie Duer, Water Conservation Manager, at 801-483-6860 or by emailing stephanie.duer@slcgov.com. Barrels will be available beginning September 4, on a first-come, first-served basis. For more information regarding the Rain Barrel Initiative, Water Check Program or other water conservation initiatives, visit www.slcgov.com/waterconservation.