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Catch the rain water

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Mayor Eric Garcetti announced that Keep Los Angeles Beautiful (an affiliate of Keep America Beautiful) and the city of Los Angeles have partnered with Coca-Cola on a Rain Barrel Pilot Program in which 1,000 45- and 55-gallon syrup barrels will be re-purposed as rain barrels and distributed to city residents, free of charge, so they can capture rainwater for irrigation.

“Using rain water for irrigation conserves precious drinking water and doesn’t show up on your water bill,” Garcetti said. “We must be innovative in addressing our drought, and in doing so, we’ll lower our utility costs.”

The syrup barrels, along with 1,000 conversion kits, were donated by Coca-Cola and will be distributed over five Saturdays throughout the city, and the nearest sessions locally will be held Nov. 22 at Los Angeles Harbor College, 1111 Figueroa Place, and on Dec. 6 at Los Angeles City College, 855 N. Vermont Ave.

The sessions run from 9 a.m.-1 p.m. Pre-registration online is required. Contact http://bpw.lacity.org/KLAB.

Rainwater is a natural resource that can be harvested to supplement the existing potable water supply at residences throughout the  city of Los Angeles. Rainwater that falls on the roofs of houses can be collected and conveyed through roof gutters and down spouts to a rain barrel. Collected rainwater can be used for watering plants and irrigating gardens or lawns.

“During this time of an unprecedented drought, these rain barrels will be of great importance as we hope to receive significant rainfall this fall and winter and retain as much rainwater as possible,” said Garcetti. “In addition, it shows how the city of Los Angeles continues to invest in innovative sustainability projects.”

Board of Public Works Vice President Monica Rodriguez says, “This collaboration with Coca-Cola represents the best of public-private partnerships and sustainability efforts. We look forward to engaging residents and providing them with another free tool to help save and reuse rainwater, because every drop counts.”

Keep Los Angeles Beautiful, established in 2007, is a citywide volunteer-based community improvement and education campaign affiliated with Keep America Beautiful to engages residents, businesses and local government in programs that prevent litter and promote the reduction of waste through reuse and recycling and beautification projects. Through public-private partnerships and strategic alliances, Keep Los Angeles Beautiful mobilizes thousands of volunteers to clean up, beautify and improve their neighborhoods, upholding quality of life and protecting community environments in the city of Los Angeles.

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