Catch the Rain
Water your garden—for free. Set up a few barrels and catch the rain. Rain barrels can provide hundreds of gallons of fresh, clean water for your garden.
Your Impact
Action Steps & Tips
Introduction
How it works. Rain barrels connect to your rain gutter downspout and catch the rainwater runoff from your roof. A filter or debris screen keeps the water clean and a hose connection or spout makes it easy to use the water you collect. Need more water? No problem. Connect a few rain barrels together or install a larger capacity water cistern.
Important—rainwater is not safe for human (or pet) consumption! It is only suitable for outdoor uses like watering your garden and washing cars or pets, or for indoor use like flushing toilets. Rain barrels are generally used for hand watering. The more extensive setups can support irrigation systems.
1Make a plan
A bit of advance planning will help you get the most out of your rain barrel. Here are a few tips:
Decide on the number and size of barrels. Before you are ready to install, make a plan for your rain barrels. First, decide how much water you want to collect. To estimate, with 1 inch of rain you can collect about ½ a gallon for each square foot of roof surface. Each downspout only provides water for a portion of your roof, so consider this in your estimation.
Decide how many and what size rain barrels will be best for you. Most rain barrels hold 40-90 gallons. For example, a standard 60-gallon rain barrel is about 3.5ft high and 2ft wide and deep. If you want to collect more water than a standard rain barrel or two, there are also models that allow you to connect a few rain barrels together. Or you can consider installing a larger water cistern. If you are not sure, try starting with one barrel and see how it goes!
Decide where to place the barrels. Next, decide where you will place the rain barrel. The best plan is to choose the gutter closest to the area where you want to use the water. Also, look to see if there is room around the downspout you are considering.
Purchase your rain barrels. Most basic rain barrels run from about $100-$200 per barrel. A larger or more complicated installation will run more.
2Install your barrels & start watering!
Install DIY? Depending on the setup you choose, installing a rain barrel can be a simple DIY (do-it-yourself) project. If you are comfortable using tools to cut your gutter and following the instructions to make sure your rain barrel is secure and working properly, then a basic rain barrel install is for you. For an example of a basic rain barrel installation, check out this DIY guide.
However, if you are not ready to take this on or are considering a larger advanced rainwater catchment system, you might want to consult a professional.
Start watering! Congrats! Now you are ready to put your barrel to use. Simply fill your watering can or attach a hose to the barrel and start watering. To stretch your rainwater even further, choose plants that conserve water and match your local climate.
Maintain your barrel. It is important to check your rain barrel regularly to make sure it is in good condition. Standing water can be a breeding ground for mosquitoes, so keep your rain barrel covered and drain it regularly. Keep your gutters clean and use screens to prevent leaf debris from entering the barrel. Empty your barrel before storms and give it a good cleaning at least once a year.