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Jersey City residents will soon be able to capture hundreds of gallons of water with their very own rain barrel.

Mayor Steven Fulop and the Jersey City Municipal Utilities Authority, in partnership with Sustainable JC and the Jersey City Environmental Commission, will hold a press conference this morning to announce the Jersey City Rain Barrel Initiative.

The initiative represents a sustainable plan to collect and filter runoff water, reduce flooding, minimize pollution and energy and also save money, officials said.

The rain barrels will connect to residents' downspouts, and can be used to water yards and gardens with collected rain water from roof runoff.

The goal is to distribute 200 rain barrels to residents at a low cost during the next two years, Fulop said.

"It is through the collaboration of the city, community organizations, and the residents that we can create a more sustainable Jersey City," Fulop said.

"Each summer a large percentage of runoff water floods our sewers. However, with the use of rain barrels, we can conserve nearly 275 gallons of free water with just a quarter inch of roof runoff, therefore preserving our municipal water systems and benefiting our environment."

The press conference is scheduled for 10:45 a.m. at the Jersey City Municipal Utilities Authority, 555 Route 440.

The 200 rain barrels will collect about 55,000 gallons of storm water every season that would otherwise enter the city's sewer system and put rain water to good use during the dry summer months.

Rain barrels can be purchased at a discounted price of $25 through the Jersey City Municipal Utilities Authority on Tuesdays and Thursdays between 9 a.m. and 2 p.m., the officials said.

For more information, call the Resident Response Center at (201) 547-4900.