Soak It Up Summer teaches people the importance of rain barrels

LA CROSSE (WKBT) -- The City of La Crosse Parks, Recreation and Forestry collaborated with Habitat for Humanity and La Crosse Area Waters for its summer sustainability program kickoff.

On Wednesday people were building rain barrels and learning the vital role they play in the city.

Riley Hunter has a rain barrel. She says sustainable water usage is important for the health of local waterways.

"It's very critical that we find ways that water shed is actually utilized locally versus just letting it all go into the waterways."

Every summer, The City of La Crosse runs an initiative to promote sustainability. This year's focus is "Soak It Up Summer," a way for folks to build rain barrels and learn about storm water management.

The barrels trap rainwater that would otherwise carry pesticides and lawn chemicals into rivers and lakes, reducing pollution in bodies of water.

Rain barrels also help preserve city infrastructure.

"It keeps it out of the street. It keeps it out of the storm's sewer, so it reduces that load on the storm sewer," stormwater coordinator Claire Jablonski said.

The city says the benefit of it all is the rain barrels have a positive impact on your wallet.

"It's free so that's a huge perk to using it. You do pay your water utility when you use water. It can be a little bit more expensive when you're watering your lawn or your garden with the water, and its mother nature's gift to us," outdoor recreation coordinator Sami Meyer said.

In the fall, the city will have "Leaf It," which teaches people to keep their leaves on their property instead of raking them. Jablonski says this prevents them from clogging up storm sewers and reduces nutrient loading.

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