We are currently in the process of retiring our Rain Barrel sale program. This year, we’re no longer selling barrels for pick up, but we are hosting some rain barrels sales and workshops in partnership with a few cities. Please check our events calendar to see if there are rain barrel programs going on in your city or a city near you.

Rain barrels capture water from your roof to use at a later time— like during the hot summer months when you need to water your garden. “Harvesting” rain like this also prevents water from becoming runoff that carries pollutants from the road into our rivers, lakes, and other natural water bodies.

Why Should I Install a Rain Barrel?

Per the Washington Department of Ecology, rain barrels are legal and encouraged! See what they have to say about Rainwater Collection. There are many benefits to harvesting water with rain barrels. In addition to helping you conserve water, rain barrels can help you to:

  • Cut your household use of water during the hot summer months

  • Water your plants with chlorine-free rainwater that they prefer

  • Clean your car, bike, tools, etc., without ever using the faucet

  • Provide water to livestock

  • Save money on water bills

  • Protect local streams and Puget Sound

Where Can I Find a Rain Barrel?

Rain barrels can be purchased from many hardware/home improvement stores and online stores. If you’re handy and have some tools available, you may want to consider sourcing a food-grade 55 gallon barrel and upcycling it into a rain barrel yourself, using the instructions below as a detailed guide. Empty food-grade barrels can sometimes be found for sale on social media marketplaces like Facebook and on online services such as Craigslist. 

Cornell University Extension has comprehensive instructions on building and installing a rain barrel. 

Washington State University Extension’s Rural Stormwater Solutions program offers educational resources for rural landowners, but it could also be useful for urban residents as well. If you’ve requested a site visit from our Community Conservation team, you can create a site map to see where water naturally drains on your property.

Already Own a Rain Barrel?

Check out our Rain Barrel Care page to learn about installation, painting, and basic rain barrel maintenance.