STATEN ISLAND, NY -- On Saturday, July 22, the City Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) will join Rep. Daniel Donovan in distributing free rain barrels to up to 160 homeowners on Staten Island.
The 60-gallon rain barrels are easy to install and connect directly to a property owner's downspout to capture and store the storm water that falls on rooftops. The water collected in the rain barrel can then be used to water lawns and gardens, or for other outdoor chores.
"Thank you to DEP for this great program. Rain barrels are a simple and convenient way to conserve and reduce water bills. I'm proud to partner with DEP on this initiative, and I look forward to Saturday's event," said Donovan (R-Staten Island/Brooklyn).
Rain barrels can help reduce a homeowner's water bill as watering lawns and gardens can account for up to 40 percent of an average household's water use during the summer months.
"Using a rain barrel is a great way for property owners to reduce their water bills and mitigate localized flooding while also helping to protect the environment," said DEP Acting Commissioner Vincent Sapienza.
They also help to reduce the amount of storm water that enters the city's sewer system, which helps to protect the health of New York Harbor.
Last year, DEP distributed a record-setting 11,111 rain barrels to New York City homeowners.
Saturday's event is set for 10 a.m. to noon at the Friendship Club parking lot at the Mission of the Immaculate Virgin at Mount Loretto, at 6581 Hylan Blvd., Pleasant Plains.
Participation in this DEP Rain Barrel Giveaway Program will be on a first come, first served basis.
For more information, contact Congressman Donovan's office at 718-351-1062.
MORE ABOUT THE PROGRAM
The DEP's Rain Barrel Giveaway Program is part of New York City's Green Infrastructure Plan that aims to capture storm water before it can ever enter the sewer system and thereby reduce combined sewer overflows into local waterways.
The DEP has committed to invest $2.4 billion in green infrastructure projects as well as other source controls, such as rain barrels, to significantly reduce combined sewer overflows by 2030.
The rain barrel program also builds upon the DEP's efforts to conserve water as part of a $1 billion initiative to ensure clean, reliable, and safe drinking water for more than nine million New Yorkers for decades to come.
As part of this initiative, DEP has begun a project to repair leaks in the Delaware Aqueduct that supplies roughly half of the city's daily drinking water. In order to complete these repairs to the Aqueduct, the tunnel must be temporarily shut down in 2022. Ahead of the planned shutdown, DEP aims to reduce citywide water consumption by five percent.
Installation of rain barrels is easy and they require little maintenance. Each homeowner who received a rain barrel on Saturday was provided with an installation kit and instructions. Rain barrels should only be used for non-potable purposes, such as gardening, and must be disconnected from the downspout during the winter months to avoid freezing.
The DEP manages the city's water supply, providing approximately 1 billion gallons of high quality drinking water each day to more than 9 million residents, including 8.5 million in New York City.
The water is delivered from a watershed that extends more than 125 miles from the city, comprising 19 reservoirs and three controlled lakes. Approximately 7,000 miles of water mains, tunnels and aqueducts bring water to homes and businesses throughout the five boroughs, and 7,500 miles of sewer lines and 96 pump stations take wastewater to 14 in-city treatment plants.
The DEP has nearly 6,000 employees, including almost 1,000 in the upstate watershed. In addition, DEP has a robust capital program, with a planned $20.7 billion in investments over the next 10 years that will create up to 3,000 construction-related jobs per year.
For more information, visit nyc.gov/dep.