The black IVY rain barrel is made in the U.S. from 100 percent recycled materials. Normally $129, the city of Corpus Christi sold them to utility customers for $49.50.
While water customers in Corpus Christi line up to receive their discounted rain barrels on Saturday, customers in Port Aransas will just be getting started purchasing theirs. The barrels originate from Rain Water Solutions, Inc. in North Carolina, a company owned and operated by the couple that designed the barrels with efficiency and 4-door sedans in mind.
“We designed this model to fit into the back seat of a car,” said Lynn Ruck, co-owner of Rain Water Solutions. “You can set four across the back.”
While Corpus Christi residents were limited to two each, many neighbors are car pooling to the pick up site at the Water Utilities Building at 2726 Holly Road. Pick ups are scheduled from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. Saturday, March 28. Purchasers were sent emails asking them to RSVP for pickup times. Those who have not responded will receive robo calls on Friday.
Around 660 rain barrels were sold for $49 each to Corpus Christi water customers. That’s an $89 savings from the retail price. Purchasers also saved $125 in shipping. The city of Corpus Christi subsidized the purchase to promote water conservation. Shipping charges are minimal since all the barrels arrived together.
“This program was wildly popular,” Ruck said. “It sold out in four weeks.”
Port Aransas is conducting a similar program, but only subsidizing the sale of 66 barrels at $69 each. For the discount price, you have to be a Port Aransas water customer. Anyone, including Corpus Christi residents who missed out on the sale, can still purchase at full price through the city’s <a href="http://www.rainbarrelprogram.org/portaransas">website</a> and save the shipping cost.
Homeowners can save 1,300 gallons of tap water every summer by purchasing a rain barrel to water lawns and gardens. According to statistics from the Environmental Protection Agency, 40 percent of household water usage in the summer is from lawn and garden watering.
The black Ivy rain barrel being sold by both Corpus Christ and Port Aransas were designed for maximum efficiency and minimal bug problems, Ruck said.
“We worked with a researcher on the the health and safety issues with rain barrels,” she said. “The Ivy has large overflow ports and a large hose, along with a locked screen to keep mosquitoes from getting in or out.”
The ports and hoses are designed for Texas summer deluges, when huge amounts of rain hit the barrel at one time. The water is diverted from the home and foundation and onto the lawn.
The barrels are made from 100 percent recycled materials and designed to use every drop. Spigots are positioned lower on the barrels than other models.
The Rucks’ new twist on an old concept came after a stressful summer trying to retrofit existing barrels. Ruck’s husband had inherited a rain barrel his grandfather built for his grandmother. When drought conditions pushed them to add a second barrel, they found it was easier said than done. After that summer’s struggles, they decided to design the perfect rain barrel from scratch.
“We spend about a year designing the product and another year getting it to market,” Ruck said.
The resulting product has been sold throughout the U.S. through government agencies and non-profits.
“Our in goal is for the consumer and residence to have a very positive experience using and collecting rain water,” Ruck said. “We’re hoping the city will do this again in the fall.”
