Partnership pushes water conservation

The 55-gallon barrels are used to collect rainwater from building downspouts and gutters; the water can then be used for watering gardens, washing vehicles and other nonpotable uses.

Customers interested in collecting runoff should have plentiful supplies; the city estimates that during a one-inch rainfall, an average 1,000-square-foot home will produce 600 gallons of runoff.

Normally selling for more than $140, the barrels are available for $75 through the James River Basin Partnership; that price is reduced to $50 for Greene County residents. The city started with 100 barrels in stock.

The barrels will be on display at several upcoming events: the Lawn and Garden Show Feb. 16–18 at the Missouri Entertainment and Event Center E-Plex; the Nixa Outdoor Gear Swap Meet on Feb. 17; and the Naturescaping Symposium April 7 at the Springfield Conservation Nature Center.

Barbara Lucks, materials recovery/education coordinator for the solid waste management division of Springfield Public Works, said the drought conditions that have gripped the area, combined with the failure of City Utilities’ water pumps at Stockton Lake last year, brought water conservation to the forefront.

“Last spring was a wake-up call for everyone in this area,” she said. “We’ve never seriously had to give attention to water quantity issues, though we’re beginning to see that now, not just due to the drought but also due to ground water issues.”

For more information on the program, call (417) 836-6183 or visit www.springfieldmo.gov/egov/publicworks/storm_water/rainbarrel.html.

See SBJ’s Feb. 12 Home & Garden issue for more on local water conservation techniques.