Homeowners can get free rain barrels

BERWYN – Rain barrels will soon be available to qualifying Berwyn homeowners free of charge through a flood mitigation program.

Berwyn officials approved an agreement Oct. 28 with the Metropolitan Water Reclamation District to establish the rain barrel program, which will reduce the likelihood of basements flooding during heavy downpours, officials said.

The program will provide a rain barrel for each downspout that is currently connected to a sewer line. Instead of flowing into the sewers, the rain will collect in the barrels, which can be used for watering plants or washing cars.

Under the agreement, residents must disconnect their downspouts from the sewer system and reconnect it to a rain barrel. The program will only provide barrels where downspouts are connected. The barrels and connecting hardware are provided and delivered by the Metropolitan Water Reclamation District.

The program was discussed at the Oct.15 town meeting on flooding at Heritage Middle School where up to 300 people attended to express their exasperation with repeated flooding events the past four years to city officials and representatives of the Metropolitan Water Reclamation District.

While the rain barrels are not expected to alleviate all flooding in basements, they are designed to capture water coming from rooftops and divert it from sewer systems. The barrels retain water for later use or can be used as a reservoir to redirect the water to another area of the property away from the house.

Assistant City Administrator Evan Summers said applications should be available within the next three weeks and will be available on the city's website at www.berwyn-il.us. Applications also will be available at the Clerk's Office in City Hall.

Residents who do not qualify for the free rain barrels may purchase them for $58 at www.mwrd.org.

Once available the barrels will be offered in four colors, terra cotta, black, gray and blue.