Water Conservation Initiatives
- Painted Rain Barrel Project
- Imagine a Day Without Water
- Water Conservation Expo
- Water Utility Rain Barrel Sale
What is the Painted Rain Barrel Project?
To raise awareness for sustainable watering resources, the City of Georgetown’s Water Conservation team invites local artists to create art pieces out of rain barrels.
The barrels will be displayed around City facilities and local businesses downtown, before and during the South Main Arts Festival, which is held annually in October. All painted barrels will be available for community members to purchase via a silent auction that will run through the course of the Autumn Art Stroll and South Main Arts Festival in the fall.
See all the 2023 painted rain barrels and bid on your favorite today!
The Painted Rain Barrel Project supports water conservation education and outreach efforts and is a wonderful way to support local artists. The program started in 2022, and this page will be updated each year with new dates and information.
Painted Rain Barrel Artists
All artists and student artists are invited to submit up to three designs for consideration while submittals are being accepted. This submittal period changes every year but is generally in the August-September timeframe. There is no application fee. Proposals will be selected by the Georgetown Arts and Culture Board for consideration and presented to the Georgetown Water Conservation Team for final selection. For more information on submission guidelines please visit the Georgetown Arts & Culture request for artist proposals.
Painted Rain Barrel Host Businesses
Hosting a painted rain barrel is a great way for local businesses and facilities to help City of Georgetown’s Water Conservation team bring awareness to the effectiveness of rain barrels as a source of irrigation water. A beautifully painted rain barrel will be placed at your facility in the month of October along with informative materials related to water conservation and a QR code for folks to bid in the silent auction. If you are interested in hosting a Painted Rain Barrel, please contact conservationservices@georgetown.org.
Visit these host businesses to see the 2023 painted rain barrels:
- Grape Creek Winery – Graphic Flowers
- Hydrate – Water For All
- Daytripper – Mosaic
- Wag Heaven – Waves and Flowers
- Lark & Owl – Pointillism
- Convention and Visitors Bureau – Fall Wonderland
- Georgetown Public Library – Anime Compilation & Space Turtle
- Mesquite Creek – Water lilies
- Goodfolks – Majestic Trail
Bid on a Painted Rain Barrel
The painted rain barrel auction is open from Oct. 12-21, 2023. View all the barrels and bid on your favorite today! Bidding closes at 2 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 21. The winning bidders must pick up their painted rain barrel by 5 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 21.
Earnings from the Painted Rain Barrel auction will go to water conservation education and outreach efforts. Bidding on Painted Rain Barrels will begin after all barrels are completed. Check back here for updates and information.
Learn more about our water conservation rebates, including a rebate for rain barrels.
Anticipated 2023 Timeline
- End of Summer – Call for Artist entries opens.
- Early September – Georgetown Arts and Culture Board will recommend proposals for the Georgetown Water Conservation team to choose from.
- Mid-September – Georgetown Water Conservation team will select 10 proposals to commission. Artists will be notified of the final selection. Artist contracts to be signed upon receipt of their prepped, blank barrel in mid-September.
- Early October – Barrels to be completed and dropped off.
- Oct. 19 – Autum Art Stroll
- Oct. 21 – South Main Arts Festival
Imagine a Day Without Water
How to Participate in Georgetown
Every year, the City of Georgetown joins other cities across the country in Imagine A Day Without Water‘s day of action. In 2023, the City will celebrate on Oct. 19 at our annual Autumn Art Stroll. Pick up your water conservation passport at check in, get a stamp at participating businesses around the Square, and return it to the Water Conservation booth, located at 817 S. Main St. Return your passport between 4 and 8 p.m. on Oct. 19, and you will be entered into a goodie bag giveaway contest.
Stop by these participating businesses to pick up your passport and free Imagine A Day Without Water swag:
- Grape Creek Winery
- Hydrate
- Daytripper
- Wag Heaven
- Lark & Owl
- Convention and Visitors Bureau
- Georgetown Public Library
- Mesquite Creek
- Goodfolks
About “Imagine a Day Without Water”
Many people don’t have to imagine a day without water because they already live it.
Water contamination or shortages leave millions of people every day without water to drink, prepare meals, bathe their children, wash their hands, flush the toilet, or do laundry. Firefighters can’t put out fires, and farmers cannot water their crops. Hospitals would close without water.
This annual, nationwide event encourages people to learn more about our water systems and what we can do to help improve access to adequate drinking water.
Value of Water Fast Facts
The average American uses 100 gallons of water daily.
It takes 1,056 gallons of water to make 1 gallon of coffee.
That breaks down to:
- 1,014 gallons for crop production
- 10 gallons for beverage production
- 32 gallons for packaging production
It takes 296 gallons of water to make 1 gallon of beer.
That breaks down to:
- 251 gallons for crop production
- 32 gallons for beverage production
- 13 gallons for packaging production
It takes 872 gallons of water to make 1 gallon of wine.
That breaks down to:
- 610 gallons for crop production
- 140 gallons for beverage production
- 122 gallons for packaging production
*Data taken from Waterfootprint.org & AWWA.org.
Get Involved
Protecting access to clean, safe water and an efficient wastewater system means you are a true conservationist.
Together, we can ensure clean, safe water is accessible to every community. Join the City of Georgetown water utility in being a part of the solution by becoming a Super Water Saver!
