Images courtesy of City of Linclon. All rights reserved.

A rain barrel is one of the simplest ways to reduce stormwater runoff while putting rainwater to work around your home.

Instead of allowing roof runoff to flow across driveways, sidewalks, and streets, a rain barrel captures water from your downspout for later use. That stored water can irrigate gardens, flower beds, trees, shrubs, and container plants while reducing demand on the municipal water supply.

Rain barrels won’t eliminate flooding or capture every drop during a major storm, but they are an inexpensive first step toward managing rain where it falls.

A typical home produces far more runoff than most people realize.

Just one inch of rain falling on a 1,200-square-foot roof produces about 750 gallons of water.

Most residential rain barrels hold between 50 and 80 gallons, meaning they’ll fill quickly during many storms.

Even though a barrel captures only a portion of the runoff, every gallon stored is one less gallon flowing toward the storm drain.

Benefits include:

• • Conserving drinking water
  • Reducing stormwater runoff
  • Lowering outdoor water use
  • Providing chlorine-free water for many plants
  • Helping reduce erosion around foundations

The easiest place to install a rain barrel is beneath an existing downspout.

Look for a location that:

• • Receives runoff from a large section of roof
  • Is close to gardens or landscaping
  • Has level ground
  • Allows excess water to overflow safely away from the foundation
  • Is easy to access with a watering can or hose

Avoid placing rain barrels where overflow could create standing water near your home.

Before installing fittings:

• • Wash the barrel thoroughly.
  • Never use containers that previously stored hazardous chemicals.
  • Inspect for cracks or damage.

A food-grade barrel is the safest option.

Install the hose spigot several inches above the bottom of the barrel.

Leaving space below the outlet allows sediment to settle without clogging the faucet.

Seal the fitting tightly to prevent leaks.

An overflow outlet is one of the most important parts of a rain barrel.

Once full, additional rainfall must have somewhere to go.

Connect the overflow to:

• • Another rain barrel
  • A rain garden
  • A vegetated area
  • A splash block
  • An extension that directs water away from the house

Never allow overflow to discharge against the home’s foundation.

Cover every opening with fine mesh screening.

This helps keep out:

• • Mosquitoes
  • Leaves
  • Seeds
  • Twigs
  • Debris

A tightly screened barrel stores cleaner water and requires less maintenance.

Most watering cans won’t fit beneath a barrel sitting directly on the ground.

Place the barrel on a sturdy platform made from:

• • Concrete blocks
  • Landscape blocks
  • A manufactured stand

Raising the barrel also increases water pressure.

Always build on level, stable ground.

Remember that a full 55-gallon barrel weighs over 450 pounds.

Most installations require shortening the existing downspout.

Water can then be directed into the barrel using:

• • A flexible elbow
  • A downspout diverter
  • A short extension

Many commercial diverters automatically return water to the downspout once the barrel is full.

Avoid using rain barrel water for:

• • Drinking
  • Cooking
  • Bathing
  • Filling swimming pools
  • Watering edible plants with overhead sprinklers
  • Inside your home unless connected to a properly designed non-potable plumbing system

Roof runoff may contain bird droppings, bacteria, dust, roofing particles, and other contaminants.

Nebraska winters require a little preparation.

Before freezing weather:

• • Empty the barrel completely.
  • Disconnect it from the downspout if necessary.
  • Store it upside down or indoors if possible.
  • Reconnect the downspout so winter runoff drains normally.

Water left inside can freeze and crack the barrel.

Check your rain barrel several times each year.

Maintenance includes:

• • Cleaning leaves from screens
  • Checking fittings for leaks
  • Flushing sediment from the bottom
  • Cleaning the inside annually
  • Inspecting overflow hoses
  • Confirming water drains away from the foundation

A properly maintained rain barrel can last for many years.

Don’t

• • Drink stored rainwater.
  • Leave openings uncovered.
  • Allow overflow to create erosion.
  • Install beneath damaged gutters.
  • Place the barrel where it could help someone enter your home.
  • Assume one barrel captures all roof runoff.

Why It Matters

Rain barrels are a simple form of green infrastructure.

They reduce runoff, conserve drinking water, and help homeowners manage stormwater one storm at a time. While a single barrel won’t eliminate runoff from every storm, thousands of rain barrels across a community can collectively reduce the amount of water entering storm drains while putting rainfall to beneficial use.

Sometimes protecting our waterways starts with simply catching the rain before it reaches the street.

Our Water. Our Responsibility.