Consumer

County, Solana Center Offering Discounted Rain Barrels

two rain barrels
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There’s still time left in our rainy season — and there’s still time to get a cool, discounted, top-of-the-line rain barrel from the County of San Diego’s Watershed Protection Program and the Solana Center.

County residents can buy 50-gallon “Ivy” rain barrels online for $90 per barrel, less than the typical retail price of $120. That price could shrink to $55 per barrel by successfully applying for $35 rebates from the Metropolitan Water District of Southern California’s “SoCalWaterSmart” rebate program. A household is eligible for rebates for up to two barrels.

With a rain barrel, you can start “harvesting” rain, cut your watering costs and protect our beaches by keeping rain from washing pollution down the gutter and into the storm drain.

The Ivy rain barrels have a locking, child-proof lid, are made of 100 percent recycled materials, have overflow ports, protective screening to keep mosquitoes out, a ¾ inch ball valve to connect to your garden hose or to another barrel, and do not need pumps because they use gravity to flow.

Getting your discounted rain barrel is as easy as three steps. Order your barrel. Apply for your rebate. Pick up your barrel.

Order Your Barrel

Go to the Solana Center’s website. Scroll down to the “buy now” link and pay by credit card. Select your pickup location. This is important. Although you will be asked to enter your billing address, your rain barrel(s) WILL NOT be delivered to you. Instead you will be asked to choose to pick up your rain barrel at one of three locations as you complete your online purchase:

Fallbrook, April 15
From noon till 3 p.m., Sunday, April 15
Fallbrook Public Utility District
990 E. Mission Road, Fallbrook, CA 29028

Alpine, April 21
Between 10 a.m. and 1 p.m., Saturday, April 21
Alpine Community Center
1830 Alpine Blvd., Alpine, CA 91901

Encinitas, the Solana Center for Environmental Innovation
During regular operating hours
8:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. Tuesdays and Thursdays
8 a.m. to noon, Saturdays
137 N. El Camino Real, Encinitas, CA 92024

Apply for Your Rebate

Rebates are available only within 90 days from the day you buy them, so it’s a good idea to apply for one right away on the SoCalWaterSmart link on the Solana Center website. To qualify for the rebate, the agency you buy your water from must be a Metropolitan Water District (MWD) customer. Rebates are available on a first-come, first-served basis. You can see the list of MWD conditions here. It will take two to four weeks to approve your application and another six to eight weeks after approval to get your rebate check.

Pick Up Your Barrel

When you buy your barrels, Rain Water Solutions will email you a confirmation (look for the email with the subject line “Order# … confirmed”). Remember to bring your confirmation email with you when you go to your chosen location to pick up your barrel. And, remember to leave room in your car! Solana Center officials say that barrels fit easily in any four-door sedan or SUV, and even into some two-door cars.

That’s it! Now you can start harvesting rain and saving our beaches.

 

 

Gig Conaughton is a communications specialist with the County of San Diego Communications Office. Contact