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Rain Barrels
| Why Rain Barrels? | Rain Barrel Workshops | Frequently Asked Questions | Contact |
Take an active role in recycling
rainwater - install a rain barrel at your house! A
rain barrel is placed under a gutter's downspout next to a house to
collect rain water from the roof. The rain barrel holds
about 50 gallons of water which can be used to water gardens and for
other uses. Harvesting rain water has many benefits including
saving water, saving money on your bill, and preventing basement
flooding. By collecting rain water, homeowners are also helping
to reduce flooding and pollution in local waterways. When rain
water runs off of hard surfaces like rooftops, driveways, roadways,
parking lots, and compacted lawns, it carries with it pollution to our
local waterways. Harvesting the rain water in a rain barrel is
just one of the ways homeowners can reduce rain water from running off
their property and possibly causing pollution and flooding problems in
local waterways.
"Build a Rain Barrel" workshops are currently being offered throughout New Jersey. Please see below for additional information.
| County | Workshop Location | Date | Time | Registration Information | Fee |
| Middlesex | Rutgers Cooperative Extension of Middlesex
County EARTH Center Davidson's Mill Pond Park 42 Riva Avenue North Brunswick, NJ 08902 (directions) |
Thursday, July 28 | 6:30pm to 8:30pm | Registration deadline is Thursday, July 23 Register in advance at 732-398-5262 Class size is limited |
$40.00 for advanced registration $45.00 at the door |
| Ocean | Jacques Cousteau Research Reserve 130 Great Bay Blvd. Tuckerton, NJ 08087 (directions) |
Thursday, July 28 | 6:30pm to 8:00pm | Bring your own 30-50 gallon plastic garbage can All other hardware and tools will be provided Space is limited Registration deadline is Fiday, July 24 Mail or bring registration to Rutgers Cooperative Extension of Ocean County, 1623 Whitesville Road, Toms River, NJ 08755 |
$20.00 |
| Burlington | Rutgers Cooperative Extension of Burlington County 2 Academy Drive Westampton, NJ 08060 (directions) |
Thursday, July 30 | 10:00am to 12:00pm |
Registration is required One barrel per paid registration Contact Meredith Melendez, Horticulture Consultant burlingtonmg@njaes.rutgers.edu 609-265-5050 |
$40.00 |
| Ocean | Rutgers Cooperative Extension of Ocean County 1623 Whitesville Road Toms River, NJ 08755 (directions) |
Saturday, August 1 | 10:00am to 12:30pm |
Bring your own 30-50 gallon plastic garbage can All other hardware and tools will be provided Space is limited Registration deadline is Friday, July 24 Mail or bring registration to Rutgers Cooperative Extension of Ocean County, 1623 Whitesville Road, Toms River, NJ 08755 |
$20.00 |
| Union | Rahway Recreation Center 275 East Milton Avenue Rahway, NJ 07065 (directions) |
Thursday, August 13 | 6:30pm to 8:30pm |
Registration deadline is Monday, August 10 Payment is required for registration prior to the workshop The workshop is for Rahway residents only Class size is limited |
$40.00 |
| Burlington | Rutgers Cooperative Extension of Burlington County 2 Academy Drive Westampton, NJ 08060 (directions) |
Wednesday, September 16 | 10:00am to 12:00pm | Registration is required One barrel per paid registration Contact Meredith Melendez, Horticulture Consultant burlingtonmg@njaes.rutgers.edu 609-265-5050 |
$40.00 |
| Gloucester | Rutgers Cooperative Extension of Gloucester County 1200 North Delsea Drive Clayton, NJ 08312 (directions) |
Thursday, September 17 | 6:30pm to 8:30pm | Registration is required Payment is required for registration Class size is limited to the first 25 people Visit Gloucester County website calendar for more information |
$40.00 |
| Essex | Essex County Environmental Center 621 Eagle Rock Avenue Roseland, NJ 07068 (directions) |
Saturday, September 19 | 10:00am to 12:00pm | $35.00 | |
| Middlesex | Cook Campus Center 59 Biel Road New Brunswick, NJ 08901 (directions) |
Monday, October 19 | 12:00pm to 1:00pm and 5:00pm to 6:30pm |
Flyer Registration limited to Rutgers University Faculty and Staff Payment is required for registration Class size is limited |
$45.00 |
| Middlesex | Cook Campus Center 59 Biel Road New Brunswick, NJ 08901 (directions) |
Monday, October 26 | 12:00pm to 1:00pm and 5:00pm to 6:30pm |
Flyer Registration limited to Rutgers University Faculty and Staff Payment is required for registration Class size is limited |
$45.00 |
| Essex | Essex County Environmental Center 621 Eagle Rock Avenue Roseland, NJ 07068 (directions) |
Saturday, November 7 | 10:00am to 12:00pm | Flyer | $35.00 |
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
What do the rain barrels that are being provided in the "Build a Rain Barrel" workshops look like?
For Rutgers Cooperative Extension's "Build A Rain Barrel" workshops, a 55-gallon recycled food grade barrel with a screw lid is being retrofitted into a rain barrel.
How do I install my rain barrel after I bring it home?
Follow the five steps outlined in the rain barrel brochure.
What if there's a heavy storm and my rain barrel overflows?
An overflow hose adapter is being installed in each rain barrel at the "Build a Rain Barrel" workshops. The overflow hose adapter can attach to a garden hose so that when the rain barrel fills up, the overflow water can drain to a nearby garden or lawn area. In addition to the overflow hose adapter, a manual or automatic diverter can be purchased and installed on the gutter to divert the rain water down the gutter like it would nornally do after the rain barrel has reached its capacity.
A photograph of a rain barrel with the overflow hose directing the overflow water to a nearby garden.
Where can I purchase a diverter for my downspout?
Various online store carry both manual and automatic downspout diverters. The price range of a manual downspout diverter ranges between $15 to $40, and the price range of an automatic downspout diverter ranges between $20 to $50 and even higher.
A photograph of an automatic diverter.
What defense will my rain barrel have against mosquitoes?
A mosquito-proof screen on the lid of the rain barrels helps to prevent the intrusion of mosquitos and other insects.
My roof is small, is it even worth it for me to have a rain barrel?
Yes! For an 800 square foot roof area that is being drained into one downspout gutter, 500 gallons of water will come off your roof in an one-inch rain storm. If your entire neighborhood installs a rain barrel, it may have an impact on flooding and water pollution within your community.
Are there ways that I can decorate or disguise my rain barrel?
Yes! Lightly sand the exterior of the barrel with sandpaper to get rid of the waxy coat on the barrel to ensure that a paint primer has something to stick to. After sanding, immediately spray the primer onto the barrel. After the primer dries, you can paint the barrel. If you want to hand draw designs to the barrel, acrylic-based paints work best. If you want to simply wish to change the color of the barrel, you can use Krylon (TM) Fusion Spray Paint for plastics or Rust-Oleum (TM) Plastic Primer that can be found at home centers and hardware stores. After the paint dries, apply a coat or two of polyurethane to protect the paint. You can also construct an enclosure for the rain barrel or hide it amongst your landscape to make it less noticeable. A trellis with vine plants can be placed around your rain barrel to blend it within your landscape.
A photograph of painted rain barrels.
What can I do with the rain water that my rain barrel will harvest?
The water collected by your rain barrel could be used to water your flowers, shrubs, trees, and lawn. You could use the water to rinse your hands/feet, landscape tools, or even your muddy shoes. Please do not consume water collected in your rain barrel.
Is rain water good for plants?
Yes! Natural rainwater has proven more beneficial for plantings and gardens than tap water because it doesn’t contain chlorine and its slightly acidic pH assists nutrient availability in most lawns and gardens.
Would it be safe to use the water harvested from my rain barrel to water vegetable gardens?
There is no definitive answer to this question. It is best to avoid using the water from your rain barrel on plants grown for consumption until you receive results from taking a sample of water collected from your rain barrel and having it analyzed your local water testing laboratory. If you decide to have this water sample analyzed, have it analyzed for contaminants such as zinc, lead, chromium, arsenic, polyaromatic hydrocarbons, fecal coliform, and E. coli. Once you confirm that the water is safe to use, it is best to use drip line irrigation to water the roots of the vegetables. Be sure to thoroughly clean the vegetables with potable water before consumption.
A photograph of drip line irrigation.
What precautions should be taken for your rain barrel?
Always keep the lid to your barrel tightly secured to avoid any accidents involving children or animals. Please do not consume water collected in your rain barrel.
Can I leave my rain barrel out in the winter months?
It is best to bring your rain barrel indoors during the winter months. However, it is acceptable to leave your rain barrel outside for the winter as long as there is no water accumulating in your barrel by turning the barrel upside and/or covering the barrel. Frozen water in your barrel may cause the barrel to crack.
I have previously applied a moss killer on my roof, but I would like to collect water for my rain barrel. What should I do?
Allow for a few (three or four) heavy rainfall events to occur before collecting water for use with the rain barrel. To be cautious, flush the first batch of water collected with the rain barrel. If you would like a written confirmation that the water is safe, take a sample of the water collected with the rain barrel to be analyzed at your local water testing laboratory.
Is there a rain barrel brochure that I can download?
Yes! Feel free to download the rain barrel brochure by clicking here.
What else can I do to save water and prevent flooding and water pollution?
To save water, follow these tips:
- Use mulch around your plants to reduce watering needs.
- Install low-flow showerheads, faucet aerators, low-flow toilets, and other water saving devices at home.
- Plant native plants that require less water and less fertilizer than exotic ornamental plants.
To prevent flooding and water pollution, follow these tips:
- Redirect downspouts to areas where the water can soak into the ground.
- Install a rain garden on your property to capture rain water before it goes into storm drains and into nearby waterways (see Rutgers Cooperative Extension's Rain Garden Fact Sheet)
- Reduce the amount of hard surfaces on your property. Use gravel, mulch, or pervious pavers to help infiltrate water into the ground.
What Rutgers Cooperative Extension programs does the Rain Barrel program fall under?
The Rutgers Cooperative Extension Rain Barrel program is part of the Stormwater Management in Your Backyard program and the Water Conservation Program for New Jersey.
The Stormwater Mangement in Your Backyard program is a collaborative initiative between Rutgers Cooperative Extension Water Resources Program, the New Jersey Sea Grant Extension Program, and the USDA CSREES Regional Water Coordination Program for the Northeast States and Caribbean Islands.
The Water Conservation Program for New Jersey is a collaborative initiative between Rutgers Cooperative Extenstion Water Resources Program and the New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection via funding from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency.
Contact
For more information contact your closest Environmental & Resource Management County Agent:
- Michele Bakacs ~ Middlesex & Union Counties
732-398-5274, bakacs@njaes.rutgers.edu
- Mike Haberland ~ Camden & Burlington Counties
856-566-2900, haberland@njaes.rutgers.edu
- Gregory Rusciano ~ Essex & Passaic Counties
973-353-1338, rusciano@njaes.rutgers.edu
- Sal Mangiafico ~ Salem & Cumberland Counties
856-769-0090, mangiafico@njaes.rutgers.edu
- Pat Rector ~ Morris & Somerset Counties
973-285-8300x225, rector@njaes.rutgers.edu
