Harvesting Rainwater with Rain Barrels (FS-2025-0769)

Using rain barrels reduces the amount of rooftop stormwater runoff which can reduce water pollution, decrease flooding, and help maintain the local groundwater supply. Using harvested rainwater in the right applications helps to reduce the demand on public and private water supplies. There are also financial considerations and practical reasons for why one may choose to install a rain barrel. These topics are explored below.

Stormwater runoff occurs when precipitation cannot soak into the ground because of impervious surfaces like rooftops, roadways, sidewalks, and even heavily compacted soils. Prior to large-scale development of urban and suburban areas with these impervious surfaces, precipitation could more readily soak down through the soil, into the shallow groundwater where it was temporarily stored, filtered, and slowly released into streams or used by plants and trees. As land was developed, the rise of stormwater runoff has increased the occurrences and severity of flooding as well as the amount of pollutants such as nutrients, sediment, and harmful contaminants flowing into our streams and rivers. By reducing the volume of stormwater runoff, rain barrels can decrease the chances of pollutants reaching rivers and streams.

Using harvested rainwater for applications that do not require potable water can reduce the demand on the drinking water supply. As populations increase, so does the demand for potable water. Using the water collected in your rain barrel to water flower beds, lawns, or wash garden tools is a good first step in water conservation. This is true regardless of whether your home is attached to a public water supply or draws from a private well or spring.

Will reducing water consumption by supplementing your outdoor watering needs with a rain barrel reduce your water bill? Generally, using a rain barrel or two will not result in meaningful savings on a water bill. However, being a part of the collective action towards conserving water resources can be very satisfying to many people.

Some local governments offer financial incentives to individuals installing small-scale stormwater management practices such as rain barrels. These come in the form of one-time rebates on the purchase price of a rain barrel or an annual rebate for stormwater remediation fees charged on tax bills. Check with your local government’s department of public works, environmental protection, stormwater management, or other appropriate office to find out if these incentives are available to you.

In addition to environmental and financial motivations, there are practical reasons to install a rain barrel. They can create a water supply when a hose or spigot is inconvenient or inaccessible. For individuals on well water, harvested rainwater can be used where potable water is not required in the event of a power outage when well pumps do not work. By capturing and storing rainwater to be used elsewhere, rain barrels can help address localized erosion or persistent saturation issues at downspouts.

Changing weather patterns are resulting in longer periods of drought and more intense rainfall events. Rain barrels can help reduce stormwater runoff and can store water for use in periods of drought. While one rain barrel will have a relatively small, local impact, the collective impact of rainwater harvesting among many individuals can be considerable.

Regardless of your reason for collecting rooftop runoff in rain barrels, your community and our natural resources will benefit. Rain barrels are a smallscale stormwater management practice worth adding to your landscape, contributing to a larger, impactful movement towards water conservation.