EXTENSION.USU.EDU
Creating Sustainable School and Home Gardens:
Rain Barrels
Daniel Findlay, Rita Hagevik, and Kathy Cabe Trundle
Why Collect Rain Water? In the United States, many houses have roofs that allow water to flow down the sides, being directed into a rain gutter and then a downspout. Traditionally, this water is dumped into the ground, a ditch, or the street as it flows back into the ground or into a sewer system. By attaching a rain barrel to the downspout, the rain that falls on the roof is instead collected, allowing for local water use and preventing flooding or runoff pollution. Once the water is collected in the barrel, gravity or a small pump is used to disperse the water into another container like a watering can or a sprinkler or watering system. Uses for the water are near limitless. It can be used to nurture plants and animals, but it is not potable, and you should not drink it.
Did You Know? • • • • • • • • • •
Only 1% of water on earth is drinkable. Ten countries share 60% of the world’s renewable water resources. Of treated water in U.S. houses, 70% is also being used outdoors. Collecting water reduces stress on local water treatment facilities. Less than 1/8 inch of rainwater on a roof can fill a 60-gallon rain barrel. Sixty gallons of rainwater can cover about 100 square feet of soil with 1 inch of water. About 40% of domestic water is used outdoors. A rain barrel can provide approximately 1,700 gallons of water for use per year. Plants prefer unchlorinated water, so rainwater is better for plants. There are many ways to collect rainwater, but using a rain barrel is one of the easiest. 1