The City of Alexandria Transportation and Environmental Services (T&ES) Stormwater Management Division will be offering a limited supply of free rain barrels to residents living in the City. Complete the application form by July 31 to register for a free rain barrel. Additionally, a limited number of rain barrels will be reserved for raffles at each of the four library branch locations in the City.

Participants must live in the City of Alexandria and demonstrate how the rain barrel will be used.

The City encourages the use of rain barrels which capture and store runoff from roofs that would otherwise be directed into the storm sewer network. Residential rain barrels offer the following benefits:

Provide your plants with water they will love! Unlike treated water, which is "softened" with dissolved minerals, rain water is naturally soft. The water stored in your rain barrel is better than municipal water for washing your car and watering indoor or outdoor plants.

Save money and water! Instead of water from the tap or faucet, you can use the water you've saved to keep your home landscape happy and growing. You'll also reduce your municipal water bill. The City also offers a credit towards your stormwater utility fee for the installation and proper use of a rain barrel on your property.

Protect the Chesapeake Bay! Water stored in your rain barrel won't rush off into our streams. Instead, as you use the stored rain water around the home and garden, it will absorb slowly into the ground replenishing groundwater supplies. By decreasing the volume of storm runoff, rain barrels also help moderate stream erosion and the resulting pollution that is impairing the Chesapeake Bay.

This program is in partnership with the Northern Virginia Rain Barrel Partnership Program, sponsored through the Northern Virginia Soil and Water Conservation District. The Partnership hosts build-your-own rain barrel workshops throughout the Northern Virginia area.

# # #

This news release is available at alexandriava.gov/go/3744.