Pioneer Valley
Planning Commission

Eric Carle Museum, Amherst, MA

Media Release

CONTACT: Patty Gambarini, PVPC Senior Environmental Planner (413) 781-6045
Matthew Sokop, Holyoke City Engineer (413) 322-5645


FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
July 21, 2011

Holyoke’s Stormwater Rebate Program Offers Rain Barrels to City Residents

Through its Stormwater Rebate Program, the City of Holyoke will distribute rain barrels to city residents free of charge on the morning of Saturday, July 30. To receive a rain barrel, residents must complete in advance an application form that is available at the office of the Holyoke Department of Public Works at 63 Canal Street during regular business hours, or on the Internet at www.pvpc.org under the “News and Announcements” heading.  

There are a limited number of rain barrels that will be distributed on a first-come, first-serve basis, though priority will be given to those applicants living in areas where the City is seeking to reduce the amount of rainfall flowing into the combined sewer system. The combined sewer pipes in these priority areas typically carry sanitary waste, but they also receive and carry rainfall during storm events. This is known as combined sewer flow. With very large storm events, the flow in these sewers exceeds the capacity of the waste water treatment facility so that a portion may bypass the facility. However, the more rainfall that is kept from entering the combined sewers in these locations, the less potential there is for sewage overflow.

Rain barrels provide one method to keeping rainfall from entering these sewers. The barrel, typically a 50-gallon container, is placed under a downspout to capture water flowing off a roof. The rain barrel receives water from the roof downspout and stores it until needed for irrigation of a garden or lawn. This can translate into some small savings on a water bill. 

Completed application forms can be dropped off at the Holyoke Department of Public Works or faxed to Patty Gambarini at (413) 732-2593, and must be received by 12:00 noon on Thursday, July 28. Applicants will be notified by phone on Friday, July 29 about the place and time for rain barrel pick-up. Questions can be directed to Patty Gambarini at (413)
781-6045.

For this rain barrel distribution, the City of Holyoke is working with the Pioneer Valley Planning Commission, the Western Massachusetts Master Gardeners Association, and Wistariahurst Museum in Holyoke.