Capitola has rain barrels available to residents and business for water conservation

The city of Capitola may be a small town but it’s pushing a big idea involving rain barrels. For the second year in a row Capitola is providing rain barrels to residents and businesses at a discount price to help push water conservation.

“I think with the drought, and that people are interested in catching water, and most of Capitolas’ parcels are small, so a small barrel is really easy to install into your yard” said Danielle Uharriet, the Environmental Project Manager with Capitola City Hall.

The rain barrels cost $50 dollars for Capitola residents, are limited to two per household and also available is a $25 rebate to Soquel Creek Water District customers as well.

Simply connect your downspout from your gutter to the rain barrel and the screen on top of the barrel acts as a filter, so clean water is readily available after it rains.

“It’s helping keep polluted water out of the landscape, it helps keep water from going down our storm drains, so it is a very beneficial thing at a small level for a resident” said Uharriet.

Project managers said whether it’s a house, apartment, or business buildingm, taking part in the rain barrell program helps conserve water, but can do much more.

“That keeps the water from just flushing out into the street and polluting our creeks and streams and ultimately the Monterey Bay” said Uharriet.

These rain barrels are available through December 6th, once ordered from this site, http://www.rainbarrelprogram.org/capitola, they can be picked up from Capitola City Hall on December 12th.