SALT LAKE CITY — Until 2010, rain water harvesting was illegal in Utah, but now the state's capital city is rolling out a new program to encourage residents to collect raindrops and save on their water bills.

Salt Lake City officials launched an initiative Friday to provide 208 rain barrels to residents at a discounted cost. Regular retail price of the 60-gallon barrels is $119, said Stephanie Duer, the city's water conservation program manager, but eligible residents can purchase the barrels from the city at cost for $68.

The barrels were made available beginning Friday on a first-come, first-served basis, Duer said. She said the barrels should be placed under a rain spout, and are best used for landscape watering with either a watering can or drip hoses.

"We want to do really everything we can to conserve water," Mayor Ralph Becker said. "This program helps to provide both the tools and new knowledge to assist every Salt Lake City resident and our public utilities customers outside of the city to make responsible water-use choices."

Prior to 2010, collecting or harvesting rainwater was technically illegal in Utah because the state owns the water rights. However, the Legislature passed a bill five years ago to allow water collection in two above-ground containers limited to 100 gallons each. The bill also requires harvesters to register with the state online and supply information about how much is being collected.

Earlier this year, Murray and Salt Lake County were the first municipalities in Utah to offer a rain harvesting program.

Now, Salt Lake City is launching its own program. The barrels can be purchased by households within the Salt Lake City Public Utilities' service area and are limited to one per household, Duer said.

The barrels are also limited to those who have participated in the city's water check program, which provides a free sprinkler audit and recommendations of how homeowners can improve their water systems to conserve more water.

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State's first rain harvesting program launches in Salt Lake County, Murray

Salt Lake County and Murray leaders joined with local green groups Monday to launch Utah's first rainwater collection program. (Photo: Shutterstock)

Duer said the rain barrel initiative is linked to the city's existing water check program in order to "enhance" the city's existing water conservation efforts and research.

"Most of our water check customers have experienced a reduction in water use consistently from year to year, from 13 to over 35 percent," she said. "This is long-term savings. We've been monitoring water use at these sites for years, and that water use reduction is lower than on comparable sites that haven't had water checks."

Last year, roughly 200 residents participated in the free water check program, so the city hopes to encourage more participation through the rain barrels.

"We're leveraging something that we hope a lot of people will want, and that's rain barrels as a way they can help provide water more cheaply and effectively," Becker said.

If residents purchase all 208 barrels, Duer said city officials will consider providing more next year.

"We're hoping that this is a successful program and next year we can do more," she said.

Other Utah cities have launched their own rain harvesting programs in partnership with the Utah Rivers Council with great success. Last month, more than 1,100 barrels were purchased in Sandy and Park City, according to the Utah Rivers Council's website.

Duer said it's unclear how much the barrels could save residents in both water and cost, but that's why the city hopes to learn more by expanding the city's existing program.

"It's hard to say how much people save because it depends on how much water they're using, but any water use reduction reduces their water bill," she said.

Laura Briefer, deputy director of the city's public utilities, was the first to purchase a rain barrel from the city's initiative. As a resident, she said she's excited to do her part to help save water, as well as see how much the barrel could help save in water costs.

"This is another step, in my mind, to show my family and my community that we are really serious about saving water," Briefer said.

To purchase a rain barrel, eligible households can contact Duer at 801-483-6860 or email stephanie.duer@slcgov.com.

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