Jersey City To Begin Distributing Rain Barrels To Residents
JERSEY CITY, N.J. (CBSNewYork) -- Jersey City Mayor Steven Fulop announced plans Monday to distribute rain barrels so residents can capture runoff water.
A total of 200 rain barrels will be given out at a low cost in the two years to come, according to a Jersey Journal report.
"This is just another step in making Jersey City a more sustainable long-term city for residents, and a greener city, and being a model in the region," Fulop told 1010 WINS.
The rain barrels would hook up to downspouts on homes and can be used to water yards and gardens, the newspaper reported.
Daniel Becht, executive director of the Jersey City Municipal Utilities Authority, said there will be a number of rain barrels available as early as Tuesday. He said the barrels come with multiple benefits.
"Not only is it a good deal, it's going to help the environment, which obviously is what we're interested in. And additionally, we're going to save the ratepayers additional money because the rainwater will no longer be going directly into the sewers. It will be collected, and it will be utilized for growing," Becht said.
Deborah Italiano, founder and chair of Sustainable Jersey City, said using rain barrels amounts to common sense.
"Conserve water. Put that consciousness into your mind, and reuse what's coming out of the sky for free," she said. "I mean, people pay for water, and they waste a lot of it. So here's an opportunity to redeploy a resource that we should be conserving."
The rain barrels will cost $25 apiece. They traditionally retail at Home Depot's or Lowe's for more than $95 apiece, Becht said.
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