Many Utah cities take part in rainwater conservation program. Here's how to participate

SANDY — Fifteen Utah cities and counties have announced that this year they'll take part in a rainwater conservation program called the Utah Rivers Council Rainharvest Program.

This is an effort headed by the Utah Rivers Council to help conserve water used for landscaping.

Here's how it works: You buy a 50-gallon rain barrel for $55. Next, you set that outside during big rainstorms, and all the captured water is yours. According to the Utah Rivers Council, the water from the rain barrels isn't meant for drinking, but for watering plants and grass.

The program has been available for 10 years, but this expansion is something that people like Ogden City Councilman Ken Richey is excited about.

"This is just another small step that we can take, knowing that those small steps can have some big effects," Richey said.

Utah rainwater program in other cities

Cottonwood Heights associate planner Ian Harris said the Utah rainwater project is a great opportunity for residents of his city to meet conservation landscaping standards.

"These rain barrels really help residents more efficiently meet those standards," he said. "It's really a great, affordable way for our residents to do their individual part for the greater good and the environment, while also being able to save a good amount of money on water usage."

These are the cities, counties and water districts participating in the Utah Rivers Council Rainharvest Program:

• Millcreek.
• Unincorporated Salt Lake County.
• Cottonwood Heights.
• Murray.
• Sandy.
• Taylorsville.
• Herriman.
• Lehi.
• Orem.
• Park City.
• Mountain Regional Water.
• Summit County.
• North Ogden.
• Ogden.
• Unincorporated Weber County.

To get these rain barrels, you can to the Rainwater Solutions website. Barrels will be distributed during the first week of May.

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