In the News

News Sun, September 23, 2009

HIGHWOOD -- They're rolling out the barrels here in an environmental kind of way.

The city is providing 300 rain barrels for residents, businesses and municipal buildings free of charge in the first round of a series of environmental initiatives being explored by the City Council.

"It's very exciting," said City Manager Greg Jackson. "Highwood is a small community on the North Shore between two larger communities, and it's exciting to turn around and show we can be a leader on issues that can have a positive impact on the community."

The rain barrel program is one of several environmental proposals that new Ald. Larry Harpster wants to pursue. The city partnered with state Sen. Susan Garrett, D-Lake Forest, and Coca-Cola to make the rain barrel project feasible.

Coca-Cola agreed to provide 300 55-gallon barrels for the initiative. The barrels are recycled syrup drums, and in addition to providing them, the company is providing manpower and funding to help convert them to rain barrels.

Harpster said the city has "major" rainwater management issues, and the barrels will help with that as well as providing homeowners with a free way to save about 1,300 gallons of water in summer months.

In addition to saving money and energy by reducing tap water demand for things such as watering gardens, rain barrels reduce runoff volume and delay peak runoff flow rates, officials said.

Harpster said that local school students are also helping to convert the drums to rain barrels, and that the council hopes to make such initiatives educational experiences as well as practical solutions.

"It's the beginning of an ongoing green educational process," he said.

Students in Highland Park High School's Green Initiative Club will assist city staff with the assembly, delivery and installation of the rain barrels. The barrels will be available as they are completed throughout the coming months on a first-come, first-served basis.

Harpster said that without the free option, residents would be looking at $90 to $100 to obtain similar rain barrels locally.

Highwood Community Development Director Jeff Harding demonstrates how water can be retrieved from a spigot at the bottom of a rain barrel. The barrels will be distributed to 300 Highwood residents.
(Ryan Pagelow/News-Sun)

Water can be drained from the rain barrels through a spigot, which has a threaded end to attach a garden hose.

GET A BARREL For information on how you can get a rain barrel, Highwood residents should call Anne Marrin at City Hall, (847) 432-1924.