11 2009-06-30T09:40:34+10:00 false The City of Chicago and County of Cook appear to be doing it right. We're allowed 2 rain barrels from the county and one from the city, so I ordered one of the county ones today (city is updating and will email me when they have some available in my ward). I'll go pick it up next Tuesday. For $40 you get a prepped 55 gal. rain barrel (cleaned and fitted with runoff valve and hose attachment), instructions for use/installation, and *a guarantee locking our water rates in at 2009 levels*. (We are currently unmetered--!--but they are working on changing that. They are offering this incentive to encourage the use of roof runoff via rain barrels.) Best news-- the pick up location is only about 2 miles from my house. Thanks for the tip to my best friend who works for the Planning Department. Eventually I'm hoping to have two at the garage and one or two on the side of the house. As a first step, we had gutters installed on the garage today, with downspouts in the proper place. 8 false 63533 false false false Entry 2009-06-29T15:00:00+10:00 DMY Public 2009-06-30T09:40:34+10:00 3568 Overcast 75 F