Rain Barrels: A Simple Way to Build a More Water-Wise Yard
Water is one of Colorado’s most valuable natural resources. A rain barrel provides a simple way to capture some of the water flowing off your roof and save it for your landscape.
What Is a Rain Barrel?
A rain barrel is a covered container connected to a home’s downspout. Instead of allowing all the rainwater from the roof to enter a storm drain or collect near the foundation, the barrel captures a portion of it for later use.
This water can be used on lawns, flowers, shrubs, trees, and outdoor gardens. Untreated rain-barrel water should never be used for drinking or other indoor purposes.
A surprisingly large amount of water falls on a roof. According to the EPA, 1 inch of rain can create approximately 600 gallons of runoff from a 1,000-square-foot roof. A standard barrel will only capture part of that water, making a properly directed overflow especially important.
Why Use a Rain Barrel?
Rain barrels can:
Reduce the use of treated municipal water for irrigation
Provide stored water during dry periods
Reduce runoff from roofs
Help prevent water from collecting near foundations
Reduce erosion around downspouts
Support gardens, native plants, and pollinator habitats
Help homeowners become more aware of local water use
Rainwater also arrives without the energy and infrastructure needed to collect, treat, and deliver municipal water.
Are Rain Barrels Legal in Colorado?
Yes, with important limitations. Under Colorado’s residential rain-barrel rules, eligible single-family homes and multi-family properties with four or fewer units may generally use up to two rain barrels with a combined capacity of no more than 110 gallons.
The water must:
Be collected from the rooftop of the residential dwelling
Be used on the same property where it was collected
Be used only outdoors
Be used for lawns, plants, or gardens
Rain barrels must also have sealable lids. Different provisions may apply to certain rural properties supplied by exempt wells. Review the current guidance from Colorado State University Extension before installing a system.
How to Set Up a Rain Barrel
Choose a downspout near the plants you intend to water. Place the barrel on a flat, stable platform capable of supporting its full weight. Water weighs about 8.3 pounds per gallon, so a full 55-gallon barrel weighs more than 450 pounds before including the container.
Elevating the barrel can improve water pressure and provide enough space to place a watering can under the spigot. Never use a loose or unstable stack of materials as a platform.
Your system should include:
A tight-fitting lid or fine mesh screen
A secure downspout connection
A spigot near the bottom
An overflow outlet near the top
A hose that directs overflow away from the foundation
A first-flush diverter can keep the first, dirtiest portion of rooftop runoff—often containing dust, pollen, leaves, and bird waste—out of the barrel.
Keep the Water Safe for Your Landscape
Keep the barrel tightly covered so mosquitoes, animals, leaves, and debris cannot enter. CSU Extension recommends emptying a rain barrel at least monthly and disconnecting it when leaving home for more than a week.
Clean the screen, gutters, and barrel regularly. Avoid applying collected rooftop water directly to edible portions of vegetables, especially leafy greens. When using it in a food garden, apply it to the soil around the plant and wash all produce with clean, potable water before eating.
Roofing materials and roof treatments can affect water quality, so learn what materials are present before using collected water on food crops.
Remember to Winterize
Before Colorado’s freezing weather arrives:
Empty the barrel completely.
Disconnect it from the downspout.
Restore the downspout so melting snow drains safely.
Clean the barrel and screen.
Store the barrel upside down or under cover when possible.
Freezing water can expand and crack the barrel, spigot, or connecting hardware.
Make Rainwater Part of a Larger Water-Wise Plan
A rain barrel works best as part of a complete sustainable landscape. Native and drought-tolerant plants, healthy soil, mulch, drip irrigation, rain gardens, and appropriate lawn areas can all reduce water demand.
At GhostPrint Eco Landscaping, we believe every yard can become part of a cleaner and more resilient community. Small improvements—like capturing rainwater and planting for Colorado’s climate—can make a meaningful difference.
