Lake County forest district selling rain barrels

Are you looking for ways to save a few bucks or help the environment?

You can do both by ordering a rain barrel from the Lake County Forest Preserve District.

The 55-gallon barrels collect rainwater that can be used for household chores, such as lawn watering, car washing and window cleaning - but not for drinking. Collecting rainwater for such tasks reduces water bills and conserves water.

And because the collected water is untreated, it's free of chemicals such as calcium and lime, which get into the water supply from the limestone in the ground, and chlorine, which is added to our water during the treatment process.

"It's soft water," said Lynn Hepler, the forest district's outreach and youth stewardship manager. "Why pay for treated water when you don't need it?"

The sale started this month. As in years past, the forest district is teaming with the Lake County Soil and Water Conservation District and the Lake County Stormwater Management Commission on the project.

Proceeds will benefit the forest district's youth stewardship program.

When the barrel program launched in 2007, people bought 467 barrels. Last year, 980 were sold.

Officials hope to sell 1,200 this year. Interest has grown, Hepler said.

"Around Christmastime, we began getting calls (from) people who wanted to give them as Christmas presents," she said.

The plastic barrels - which typically attach to gutter downspouts - come with perforated lids, hose connections and spigots. Linking hoses, pedestals and flexible elbows can be purchased separately from the district.

One warning: Because the barrels use gravity to disperse water, they don't provide enough pressure to operate a lawn sprinkler. But hoses should be fine as long as they're lower than the spigot.

"Remember seventh-grade science class?" Hepler said. "Water seeks its own level."

The barrels cost $79 each are available in two colors: terra cotta and gray.

You can order a barrel online at lcfpd.org/rainbarrels or by calling (847) 968-3321. Order forms found at the Web site also can be faxed or mailed to the forest district.

They are only available by prepaid order. The deadline is April 29.

Purchased barrels can be picked up at the Lake County Fairgrounds on May 15 and 16.