Have heart—opportunities to further boost the city’s water conservation rate have arrived.
Eighth District Councilmember Al Austin II is teaming up with eighth-grader Miranda Luzanilla, a Hughes Green Team member, to help facilitate said water conservation by hosting a rain barrel sale and free rainwater harvesting class, increasing ways to use the water bestowed upon the city by nature and decreasing its reliance on the limited SoCal water supply.
The events, to be held on Saturday February 6 at Hughes Middle School, will help educate residents on urban runoff pollution and raise awareness on water conservation. Pre-purchased barrels will be distributed from 9:00AM to 11:00AM, and the class will run from 9:00AM to 10:00AM.
“We know that the drought will be an ongoing issue,” Jonathan Kraus, chief of staff for Councilmember Austin said. “But certainly with the rain season and El Niño, there’s a chance to capture the rainwater that will end up elsewhere.”
Harvesting El Nino’s rainwater is one opportunity to keep the city on track toward its 16 percent water conservation goal, as city leaders urge that every action this season is important. As the Post reported last month, Long Beach has a monthly 16 percent water conservation goal that its residents have failed to meet for the past two consecutive months. And, according to a story in National Geographic, even with a strong El Niño in progress, the effects of the four-year-drought will linger.
The event will be Councilmember Austin’s second focused on rain harvesting. Back in November, Austin helped deliver over 180 barrels to local residents, according to Kraus.
The fortuitous partnership began when the Hughes Green Team and Luzanilla contacted Austin in an effort to complete her Luzanilla’s goal of finishing the installation of a 650 gallon water tank on her campus, along with other educational programming.
The rainwater harvesting class will discuss rebate information on the rain barrels, installation guides and discuss additional water conservation techniques.
Residents interested in purchasing a rain barrel can preorder barrels for $85 each at www.RainBarrelsIntl.com. Rain barrels must be preordered.
For more information regarding this event, contact Heather Morrison at 562.570.6685,or Miranda Luzanilla at 562.595.5209.
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