Rain Barrels

A Rain Barrel is simply a barrel that collects and stores the rainwater that falls on your rooftop. Your downspout is directed to the barrel instead of to an impervious surface and a storm drain. The water can later be used to water your garden or lawn. A Rain Barrel benefits the environment by reducing storm water runoff that collects sediment, oil, bacteria and nutrients from the streets before it enters the storm drain and dumps into the nearest lake, stream, river or wetland. Also, just one Rain Barrel can reduce the amount of potable water (drinkable water) used for the lawn and garden by approximately 1,300 gallons!

Rain Barrels are specially designed with a spout near the bottom and are covered at the top to prevent mosquito breeding. You can buy them already made, or you can easily build one yourself. The links below have directions on how to build a Rain Barrel.

Links:

Center for Watershed Protection – How to Build a Rain Barrel
http://www.cwp.org/Community_Watersheds/brochure.pdf

Maryland DNR - How to build a Rain Barrel
http://www.dnr.state.md.us/smartgrowth/greenbuilding/rainbarrel.html

Low Impact Development – How to build a Rain Barrel
http://www.lid-stormwater.net/raincist_construct.htm