Drought and water shortages have cities worried — and in L.A., actually putting money towards alleviating the problem. While rebates for water-efficient toilets and appliances aren’t being paid thanks to the Metropolitan Water District of Southern California being cash-strapped, Los Angeles residents have a new free water-saving opportunity to take advantage of: L.A. Rainwater Harvesting Program.
Residents and businesses in the Mar Vista, Sawtelle and Jefferson areas can sign up for the city’s new pilot program, which includes a free rain barrel — and free installation too! The dealio — an estimated $250 value — will then continue to save you money by collecting free water when it rains to use for irrigation at the home or business — or to reroute to pervious surfaces to soak into the ground instead of pushed into the gutters to create urban runoff.
The goal: “to reduce the polluted rainwater that goes into the ocean and help conserve the use of potable water.” Plus, since new water-saving laws forbidding overwatering and mandating conservation went into effect, Angelenos can use the barrels to help them comply with the new rules.
Be one of the 600 residents to take part in the pilot program by signing up at LA Rainwater Harvesting Program or by calling 562.597.0205. — if you live in those neighborhoods. The program gets its money from a grant funded by State Proposition 12.
In other watery news, the Jet Propulsion Lab in Pasadena and the Los Angeles Department of Power & Water are going to work together to bring water-saving automatic sensors to sprinklers around the city.
Image via L.A. Rainwater Harvesting Program
This is so cool! I have already signed up and 60 people signed up last night when they launched it at the Wise Water Use Expo!
Comment by Sherri — July 22, 2009 @ 10:51 am
Only awesome if you live in those areas. I was excited until I read the limitations. Eastsiders Fail.
Comment by sherrie — July 22, 2009 @ 4:33 pm
It’s a pilot program, so it’s not only just only those areas, but only the first 600 people in those areas. The main thing now is to ensure those 600 slots do get filled so the city sees there’s a serious demand and expands the program — so if you want the program to come the eastside, contact everyone in the pilot program areas and make sure they sign up!
Comment by Siel — July 22, 2009 @ 4:40 pm
This is a great initative. Well done LA. I would be very interested to know if the people in the pilot area are going to have any choice in the type of vessel that they use to collect their rainwater, either during the trial or after the pilot is successful. Rain barrel are a good idea but are not very sustainable, scalable or appropriate for every type of installation. I am wondering if there would be an option for residents to purchase different types of cisterns e.g. the Rainwater HOG and still get a rebate for doing so. This is currently happening in Santa Monica.
Comment by Simon — July 23, 2009 @ 12:23 pm
Yeah! We’re so glad L.A. is taking this first step.
Comment by Robyn Hadley — July 23, 2009 @ 1:01 pm
Simon
I am one of the houses on the pilot project as an early adopter and I know they will be coming out to do an assessment. We (Mar Vista) are really aggressively promoting the program – we want them to be so overwhelmed by the response that they will start addressing grey water and other forms of water capture!
The team rolling out this project will be at the Mar Vista Farmers Market this Sunday from 9 to noon – it would be great if you stopped by to give them your feedback. They will be at the MVCC Green Committee booth in the center of the market.
Comment by Sherri — July 23, 2009 @ 4:28 pm
I’m glad to hear that they have a pilot program, but why start it in areas so full of apartments? I know that my building’s involvement would depend on the management company’s cooperation–and years after the city started recycling for apartments, the management company still couldn’t be bothered to give their OK to install the recycling bins. I can’t imagine that any of their buildings will wind up involved in this program, either, and that’s too bad.
Comment by How Green Is My Valley — July 23, 2009 @ 4:43 pm
Oops. Should read “my former building.” At our home now, we installed our own rainwater collection system. I’d love to see it made more accessible for more people, so hopefully this pilot program will expand. I just hope it isn’t doomed by institutional non-compliance.
Comment by How Green Is My Valley — July 23, 2009 @ 4:45 pm
Hi Sherri, thanks for your response. I have just tried to email you but it bounced. Can you please call me on 415 891 8749 to discuss your response. Thanks Simon
Comment by Simon — July 24, 2009 @ 11:14 am
Simon – phone # didn’t work…try emailing me at sherri@marvista.org
Comment by Sherri — July 25, 2009 @ 8:04 am
Nice idea, but it all depends on it raining in LA…
Comment by Kasey — July 29, 2009 @ 4:35 pm
It rains every June :)
Comment by Siel — August 4, 2009 @ 6:21 pm
how do i get one?
Comment by sagi eshel — April 10, 2010 @ 8:31 am
Sign up at their blog for info when they roll it out city wide – http://lateameffort.blogspot.com/
They are also going to be at the sign in booth at the Mar Vista Green Garden Showcase
Comment by Sherri — April 10, 2010 @ 8:35 am
Thanks for being on top of the latest on this, Sherri :)
Comment by Siel — April 14, 2010 @ 2:05 pm