The Daily ItemPEABODY-Homeowners looking to green up their lawn without spending a lot of green should take a look at the city’s newest program offering discounted rain barrels.The city received a grant from the Massachusetts Department of Environmental Protection to provide 100 discounted rain barrels to residents. The barrels will be sold to residents at $62.95. The cost for additional barrels is $72.95. The goal of the barrels is to help residents conserve water, save money and allows the city to reduce storm water run-off.According to statistics the average homeowner uses about 40 percent of water for outdoor use. A 1-inch rainfall on a 1,200 square foot roof will yield more than 700 gallons of water. Using a rain barrel to harness that water can be a huge savings to gardeners and others. Five storms per season produce about 275 gallons of free water. Using a rain barrel also reduces stress on municipal water systems during the summer months and that too improves storm water management.The rain barrels are made from 55-gallon blue plastic recycled containers. The top does not come off, which prevents children and pets or other animals from getting into the barrel. A six-inch diameter inlet opening is covered with a screened louver to keep insects and debris out. The barrels have two brass spigots. One allows users to connect a hose for watering and another is for overflow. A hose can also be connected to the overflow valve to redirect water away from the home. The barrel even comes with a five-foot hose with a shutoff valve.Orders for the barrels can be placed through May 8 and they picked up on Thursday May 14 at the Department of Public Works, 50 Farm Ave. from 4 p.m.-7p.m. To order a barrel, call The New England Rain Barrel Company at 877-977-3135 or order on line at www.nerainbarrel.com. For further information please contact Bert Maria, Peabody Recycling Center at 978-535-5133 or [email protected].