Rain Barrel Sales Help Support Ecology Center & Evanston Environmental Association
Residents can now go green, save money on their water bills and support the City of Evanston's Ecology Center and the Evanston Environmental Association by purchasing a rain barrel. Rain barrels can be purchased at the Ecology Center and are $70 a piece or two for $130. The 55-gallon barrels come in terra-cotta, black and grey.
Rain barrels collect rain water from your roof. Lawn and garden watering compose 40% of household water use during the summer. The stored water could be used to water the garden, lawn, wash the car and for other household uses especially during dry weather. Rain barrels reduce pollutants from urban surfaces and the amount of water entering our storm drains.
The barrels are food quality, high density poly ethylene barrels that were previously used to ship pickled food overseas. They are cleaned and rinsed with rain water and PH neutral soap so users will never have to worry about harsh containments getting on to plants.
There are holes drilled into the lid for water to drain into from a downspout and screening on top keeps out the debris from the roof and mosquitoes out.
The barrels have a garden hose size spigot at the bottom of the barrels. Users have several options on how to water plants such as a garden hose, landscape tubing or drip tubing, all of which can be attached to the barrel. If a user wants to use a watering can, they only need to situate the barrel on a wooden pedestal.
The barrels also have an overflow fitting to allow the excess water that flows from the downspout to be diverted away from the barrel and a linking hose fitting so two or more barrels can be joined together and will all fill up from just one downspout. More on installation here>>>
Barrels are available for purchase at the Evanston Ecology Center located at 2024 McCormick Blvd. during the following hours:
Monday through Friday, 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Saturday, 9 a.m. to 4:30 a.m.
Summer office hours: Monday through Friday, 9 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.