12 Municipalities Offering 1853 Discounted Rain Barrels to Utahns to Save Water

 Municipalities Offering $55 Rain Barrels to Local Residents to Reduce Water Demand Across Four Great Salt Lake Counties in 2023

The Utah Rivers Council and 12 municipal partners are proud to announce the highly anticipated return of our popular RainHarvest rain barrel program. As the Great Salt Lake has shrunk to its lowest water level on record, growing numbers of Utahns are working to conserve water. Today, a dozen municipalities are stepping up to meet the demand by incentivizing residents to purchase discounted rain barrels and collect rainwater at their homes.

Residents of Millcreek, Salt Lake County, Cottonwood Heights, Murray, Sandy, Herriman, Lehi, Orem, Park City, North Ogden, Summit County and customers of Mountain Regional Water can purchase rain barrels for a greatly subsidized price of just $55, while supplies last. Residents can order discounted rain barrels at www.rainbarrelprogram.org/urc.

To purchase discounted rain barrels, residents must go through a verification process to ensure they reside within a participating municipality. Rain barrels are available to all Utahns for just $83 outside of these municipal boundaries. Both prices are a big discount from the American-made rain barrel’s $139.99 retail price. Purchased rain barrels will be distributed to residents at four locations after the sale closes in late-April. 

“Even with the winter we’ve all just endured, water conservation is still of utmost importance to Murray City Water,” said Aron Frisk, the Water Superintendent for the Murray City Water Department. “It’s my belief that programs, like the RainHarvest program that promotes outdoor water conservation, should be practiced and promoted. That is why we are here.” 

Rain barrels are one of many tools Utahns can use to reduce water use. Almost 8,000 barrels have been purchased through the Utah Rivers Council’s RainHarvest program over the last eight years. This means every time it rains enough to fill a 50-gallon barrel, 400,000 gallons of water can be saved from municipal water supplies.

“Water conservation is a high priority for Herriman City, and we are excited to continue to join our residents in participating in the RainHarvest program once again,” said Justun Edwards, the Director of Public Works for Herriman City.

“Rain barrels have been popular with Millcreek residents since we began pioneering the discount program with Utah Rivers Council. They are a great way to save culinary water from being used to irrigate yards and gardens and they help us control storm water as well,” said Mayor Jeff Silvestrini of Millcreek. “I am proud that Millcreek residents have been so water-wise for years.  Although we have had a good snow season this year, we still live in the second driest state and face the continuing impacts of a multi-year drought. I encourage even more Millcreekers to join the rain barrel club and get your rain barrel this spring!”

Capturing rainwater also improves water quality by preventing urban runoff from flowing over streets and gutters, washing pollutants into streams, and eventually into the Great Salt Lake. The environmentally friendly program uses the Ivy Rain barrel, made in the U.S. of 100% recycled plastic.

Rain barrels give residents the opportunity to become stewards of water conservation through a hands-on experience that past participants have said completely changed their perspective on water.

“According to the US EPA, 30% of daily water is used outdoors. In the Snyderville Basin, that number is closer to 55%,” said Andy Garland, the General Manager of Mountain Regional Water. “Mountain Regional Water is pleased to continue our partnership with the Utah Rivers Council to offer residents the opportunity to affordably conserve water through rainwater collection by purchasing a heavily discounted rain collection barrel.”

After the sale ends in late April, residents who purchased rain barrels can pick them up at a designated date and location where volunteers will be on site to teach participants about the importance of rainwater harvesting and other water conservation strategies.

"In addition to saving water for our depleted lakes and rivers, this program is an exceptional tool for participants in diversifying their water saving strategies at their home,” said Matt Taylor, the Senior Planner for the City of Orem.

“As a community that strongly supports sustainability, Cottonwood Heights is very excited to continue our participation in this program,” said Ian Harris, the Associate Planner for the City of Cottonwood Heights. “As smart water usage and water conservation become increasingly vital, we are encouraged by the high demand we have seen for this program from our residents in the past, and we look forward to watching it grow even further this year and beyond.”

“Summit County serves as the headwaters for some of Northern Utah's most crucial watersheds," Summit County Sustainability Analyst Zack Darby said. "We are excited to be part of this year’s rain barrel program because our county-wide sustainability goals go hand in hand with encouraging residents to be stewards of the important water resources around us."

"North Ogden City is pleased to partner with the Utah Rivers Council on the rain barrel initiative,” said North Ogden Council Member Jay Dalpias. “This is an exciting way to help our residents save precious water resources!"

“Installing rain barrels on downspouts that drain to driveways, alleys, and other areas that flow into storm drains, will help reduce the amount of runoff entering local streams,” said Bob Thompson, Salt Lake County Watershed Section Manager. “This protects water quality since storm drains flow directly into our streams and rivers! Less runoff also protects streams from the excessive erosion caused by ‘flashy’ high flows during storms.”

“Even in a huge water year, we’re very conscious of the ongoing drought in Utah. This water barrel program is one simple conservation step residents can take to harvest rainwater at their homes,” said Sandy Mayor Monica Zoltanski. “Every drop counts when it comes to preserving this precious resource in the Great Salt Lake watershed.”

“We’ve saved millions of gallons of water through this program over the last eight years,” said Zach Frankel, Executive Director of the Utah Rivers Council. “These twelve municipalities are leading us on a path through this megadrought that all Utahns need to follow. We are grateful to them for their leadership,” said Frankel.

For more information call 607-229-5203