FACT SHEET

RAIN BARREL PROGRAM

January 2016
With global water shortages generating political, military and
humanitarian crises across the globe, Israel's astonishing
ingenuity for wresting abundance from drought is an inspiring
and instructive blueprint for the planet. Robert F. Kennedy, Jr.,
Waterkeeper Alliance Board President

The rain
harvesting
system was
developed
in 2000 by
science
teacher
Amir
Yechieli in
Jerusalem.
A
devastating
rainstorm inspired Mr. Yechieli to install Israels first
water catchment systems at elementary schools. Today,
his business, Rain Harvest, serves over 140 schools in
Israel, including 40 in Jerusalem.
Prior to this program, no school in California used Israeli
-designed rain barrels to conserve water. So the U.S.
Israel Center (USIC) at the Rady School of Management
1

is funding a pilot program to bring the rain barrel

harvesting system to three local schools. See list of
schools below.
How do rain barrels work? Runoff is collected by gravity
or sump pumps from roofs and other areas into 3 to 4
interconnected tanks (storage varies by size of
collection area and use rate). Sediments that settle in
these settling tanks are easily drained through an
opening until the water runs clear.
The students decorate the tanks and operate and
document the system performance. The schools use the
water for flushing toilets, cleaning and irrigation of
flower and vegetable gardens.
Between January 25 and February 4, Mr. Yechieli will
install three settling tanks (each tank can hold 300
gallons) at the following schools:
Franklin Elementary in City Heights
Don Whisman, Principal
dwhisman@sandi.net 619.344.3000
STEAM Magnet School
4481 Copeland Ave.
San Diego, CA 92116
Pacific Beach Middle School
Kimberley Meng, Principal
kmeng@sandi.net 858.273.9070
4676 Ingraham St,
San Diego, CA 92109

Encinitas Union School District Farm Lab

Mim Michelove, Farm Lab Coordinator
mim.michelove@eusd.net 714.329.1349
Encinitas /Leichtag Ranch
441 Quail Gardens Drive
Encinitas 92024
All three of the schools plan to use the captured rain water
to irrigate gardens on school grounds, and the Encinitas
Union School District Farm Lab also plans to use the rain
water to flush toilets.
Each school plans to make the rain barrel program part of its
curriculum, teaching students in the classroom about water
conservation and about the large rain barrels outside their
window.
Along with conserving water, the program teaches children
that water is a resource and not a commodity. The
experience changes the water habits of numerous students,
who become conservation leaders at a young age.
In Israel, the experiences helped support a cultural shift in
how the country views and uses water.
Israel overcame a drought similar to the ongoing one
California is experiencing by becoming a global leader in
water resiliency. Israels holistic approach to water resiliency
uses multi-tiered strategies built on a basic understanding of
water as a valuable commodity.
Sixty percent of Israel is desert, but it has not only solved its
water problem, it has an abundance of water.

The opportunity for change here in San Diego is exciting for

rain barrel program organizers.
"The water conservation efforts the students in San Diego
and Encinitas will spearhead is wonderful, but what really will
be inspirational will be watching how the rain barrel program
changes how these kids think about and use water, said
Susan Lapidus, Executive Director of USIC. Its very exciting
to be able to bring this technology developed in Israel to San
Diego. It is my fervent hope that this is just the beginning of
technology transfers between San Diego and Israel.
Amir Yechieli said: I am thrilled to see three of your schools
embrace the rain barrel program and what San Diegos
future may hold based on this forward-thinking decision.
Weve seen a dramatic shift in water conservation in
Jerusalem when we started to view water for what it is a
precious resource. The rain barrel program helps young
people understand that and it inspires them to become
conservation leaders, which has the potential to help change
how water is viewed and used in San Diego.
NOTE: PLEASE CLICK HERE TO READ NEWS STORIES IN
JERESULUM ABOUT AMIR AND HIS RAIN BARREL PROGRAM
AND TO DOWNLOAD PHOTOS:
About: The U.S.Israel Center (USIC) at UC San Diegos
Rady School of Management creates meaningful interaction
and long-term collaboration between Israelis and Americans
around science, technology, innovation and economic
development. It aims to create scholarship and classroom
offerings that would otherwise be unlikely or impossible. It

accomplishes its goals with programs such as visiting

scholars, academic conferences, funding research, student
immersion programs and community outreach. It is USICs
greatest hope that its collaborative efforts result in
breakthroughs that change the world.
Contacts:
Susan Lapidus, USIC
sjlapidus@ucsd.edu | 858.246.1971
Tony Manolatos, Apex Strategies
tony@apexstrat.com | 619.549.0137