Rain Barrels: Coming Soon to an SWCD Near You!

Have you seen one of these on a neighbor's property? Did you find yourself curious? Well wonder no longer: this post is all about rain barrels, one of which is pictured to the right.

When it rains, we have a number of ways to deal with the water: from gutters and drains, to rain gardens and sewage systems. One popular rainwater storage tool for individuals is a rain barrel. Many Soil and Water Conservation Districts in Indiana, and across the country, sell rain barrels.

Did you know that until June 2009, rain barrels were illegal in Colorado? The state ruled that all water that fell belonged to it. Colorado sells much of its water supply to nearby dry or high-water-use states, primarily California. It's still illegal to catch rainwater in Utah, unless you own water rights on the land upon which it falls. In New Mexico, however, it's mandatory for new buildings to have rainwater harvesting infrastructure. Luckily for Hoosiers, harvesting rainwater is a welcomed conservation practice.


The water caught by rain barrels is used for everything imaginable, even drinking (if it's properly purified). Here are some popular rain barrel uses:

1. Reduce water mains' water use, for economic or environmental reasons
2. Aid self-sufficiency 
3. Watering gardens
4. Agriculture
5. Flushing toilets
6. In washing machines
7. Washing cars
8. Drinking (assuming the barrel owner purifies the water)
9. In ground rainwater tanks can also be used for retention of stormwater.
10. In drier regions, water can be stored for the drought seasons.

If you decide to get a rain barrel, make sure to keep it and the gutters to which it's connected clean, and make sure the barrel itself is in good repair. Check out Rain Barrel Maintenance 101.

Did you know? 1 inch of rain on a 1,000 square-foot roof will yield 623 gallons of water. Here's a tool to see how large of a rain barrel you might need.

Check with your local SWCD to see if they sell rain barrels, or if they could direct you to a nearby vendor. Have fun conserving water!