City of Salem Public Works Free Water Service
The City of Salem offers free water to community gardens that meet the following conditions:
1. Produce from the garden is not sold for financial gain.
2. The garden is not on the property of a private individual. Church, city, and county land are generally okay.
3. The garden has its own, independent water meter.
4. Marion-Polk Food Share’s Community Gardens Program has confirmed that the garden is in fact a community garden and meets the above criteria.
5. A contract must be signed by a Marion-Polk Food Share employee and a representative from the community garden, turned in to the City of Salem Public Works.
These guidelines are not a guarantee that the City of Salem will pay a garden’s water bill. Each garden must be considered individually. Contact the Community Gardens Program for more information.