Rain Barrels & Rainwater Capture

3 parent questions ▼
1 parent review ▼
Archived Q&A and reviews ▼

Parent Q&A

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  • Underground rainwater harvesting system

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    Mar 12, 2023

    We are considering installing an underground rainwater harvesting system. Does anyone have any recent experience with this? We're interested in better understanding the cost and also whether you feel it's made a meaningful difference in your water use. Recommendations for companies that do this kind of work would be great too. Thanks in advance for any feedback. 

    Mar 12, 2023

    I'm starting a similar project and we're still in the planning phase. I'd recommend reaching out to DIG Coop (https://www.dig.coop). They've been great to work with so far.

    Mar 15, 2023

  • Where to get large capacity rain barrels/tanks?

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    Oct 25, 2022

    My wife and I want to get two large capacity rain barrels for our yard.  Thinking somewhere in the 200-400 gallon range.  I can have the gutters routed down into the barrels themselves but I'm wondering who in the east bay sells rain barrels of this size.  I need a place that can also supply pumps for the barrels so I dont have to build a tall platform to elevate the barrels and support all the weight. I know urban farmer in richmond has bushman tanks/barrels but the last time I spoke, they didn't have pumps in stock.  Not opposed to going through someone not in the east bay if they can deliver the tanks to Berkeley.

    Oct 25, 2022

    Try Water Champions - https://thewaterchampions.com/

    They're located in Fairfax in North Bay. Lots of experience with water catchment and gray water systems.

    Oct 26, 2022

  • Rain Barrel: Installer for rainwater catchment system?

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    Apr 25, 2021

    Seeking experienced installer for a large rain barrel/rainwater catchment system. 

    We'd like to install a large rain barrel, connected to gutters. Not looking for anything fancy or underground. But barrel has to be big to be useful. (We already have laundry-to-garden greywater system. Not interested in DYI because those barrels are too small to make much of a difference in keeping our fruit trees alive through a long hot summer.) 

    Please share any recommendations for an installer who can do this for a reasonable price. Last time I priced this out, I was shocked by the prices they were charging for labor. Thanks. 

    Apr 25, 2021

    No responses received.

RE:
Underground rainwater harvesting system (Mar 12, 2023)

I'm starting a similar project and we're still in the planning phase. I'd recommend reaching out to DIG Coop (https://www.dig.coop). They've been great to work with so far.

Mar 15, 2023

Archived Q&A and Reviews

Can you recommend a rain barrel / supplier?

Sept 2007

We're hoping to get a rain barrel for the upcoming wet season, and I have a few questions. If you have one you like, what brand/style/size did you choose? And where's a good place to buy either rain barrels or plain plastic drums that could be converted around here? I've looked online, but shipping is high due to size. This barrel is going on our deck -- very visible -- so the more attractive the better, but I think price is most important to me. Thanks! Trying to be Water-wise

http://www.rainbarrelsandmore.com/ I googled ''rain barrel SF Bay Area'' This url came up--- they do not charge shipping. Also, here's a url for how to make a rain barrel yourself. http://www.makezine.com/blog/archive/2006/11/rain_barrel_how.html Susan and Russel

I, too, am looking for about three rainbarrels, and have been put off by price (including shipping). I looked at Gaiam, but too expensive! Maybe we should organize an order of 20 or more to be dropped at an accessible location in Berkeley, and go bulk? I bet we could get more families who are interested to join us.

We shopped around and found www.cleanairgardening.com It was the best deal at the time we bought for buying just one barrel. We wanted to start w/ one and see how much we used it. So far so good -- but it's not rocket science, you could probably furnish one yourself. Free water, yay!

Thinking about collecting rain water

April 2007

Has anybody used a rain barrel or other rain collecting device? We're thinking about setting something up for next winter to hold water for the garden, but not sure what to get and how to set it up. How do you avoid creating a mosquito breeding ground? How long can you store the water? Is it worth all the trouble? Thanks! Garden Neophyte

Sure! Rainwater is an excellent source of water for you garden and you can rig up the barrels to be inaccessible to mosquitoes. Portland and Seattle have excellent stormwater control programs that includes disconnecting roof downspouts and diverting roof runoff into rain barrels. This stormwater control provides the benefit of capturing rainwater that can be used later in your garden! Refer to their websites and I bet if you called them for more information they would be very helpful. Here's a quick look at Portland's and Seattle's websites: http://www.portlandonline.com/oni/index.cfm?a=chicg=cjdhd http://dnr.metrokc.gov/wlr/pi/rainbarrels.htm good luck capturing rainwater for later re-use. susan