Why Rain barrels?

The average American family directly consumes nearly 110,000 gallons of water each year, and if you include water used for producing food, energy, and consumer goods, that total jumps to 1.9 million gallons annually! However, a single 55-gallon rain barrel can save up to 1,300 gallons of water every year.

Rain barrels collect free rainwater to water gardens, trees, and lawns. This saves you money on water bills, AND helps reduce demand for energy-intensive treated tap water, limits stormwater runoff and erosion, and saves water for use during droughts. Installing a rain barrel is one of the easiest ways to reduce your water footprint and help recharge our rivers, lakes, and aquifers.

Join UCD at our 4th annual TreeFest, Saturday, March 21 at 10am and learn more about rainwater harvesting while creating your own rain barrel to take home! A $30 suggested donation includes everything you need to get started with your own rainwater harvesting. 

Thank you to our workshop sponsors, River Network and Patagonia Action Works.