Roll Out the Rain Barrels!

League of Women Voters^®
of Oak Park / River Forest

Our Environmental Committee Project

Rain barrels. How to buy one. How to paint one. Additional resources. Our friends.

All About Rain Barrels

Roll out the rain barrels!
Map of rain barrel locations Summer 2009
A Complete List of all the rain barrel water 'Facts'
Rain barrels as art
More rain barrels -
And more!

How to Buy a Rain Barrel

We recommend purchasing a rain barrel from a locally-owned store. Both Green Home Experts at 823 S. Oak Park Avenue and Dressel's Ace Hardware at 1137 Chicago Avenue carry rain barrels.
Isaac Sinnott, an OPRF high school senior, also manufactures rain barrels and can be reached at letitrainbarrels@yahoo.com
Or you may purchase a rain barrel (limit of two) from the Cook County Metropolitan Water Reclamation District
Questions? Contact League Environmental Committee Chair Amy Little at amyelittle@yahoo.com

How to Paint a Rain Barrel

Use an oil based primer called Zinssers Bin Stainkiller. Make sure the barrel is clean first. Then use acrylic/latex paints on top, and be sure to use 3 coats of polyurethane on top of the art to make sure you can preserve it. We believe that water based or oil based is OK on the polyurethane.

Additional Resources and Web Links

Dishwasher efficiency
A tour of the Deep Tunnel
Water saving tips
Natural Resources Defense Council on water
Wastewater management
Water saver house
Green infrastructure
Animal waste in drinking water and factory farms
How to dispose of expired or unwanted prescription drugs
More on local water facts
Legislation to help Lake Michigan and the Great Lakes

Help from Our Friends

The LWVOPRF would like to thank the Community Foundation of OPRF for being our fiscal agent, the Wednesday Journal for providing much of the artwork and advertising, the Printing Store on Madison Street for last minute graphic design work, John at Pieritz for problem solving. This project was also endorsed by the Villages of Oak Park and River Forest, the OP Energy and Environment Commission, and the OP Area Arts Council.

Comments, suggestions, questions? Contact our webmaster. Last revised: December 2, 2011 00:23 PST.