Are rain barrels cost effective?

Rhonda Ryan
by Rhonda Ryan
  11 answers
  • Janet Janet on May 26, 2017

    Yes, definitely! I live in the Seattle area up North of the city, and as everyone knows we get an overabundance of rain and I am not about to let it go to waste, I use it outside to water my deck plants, inside plants, and to clean with, I flush and clean the toilet bowls and fill the tanks also, if you think about it, everytime you flush, it uses about 7 gallons of water, so, multiply that with each member each time they flush, adds up quickly. I have about 300 gallons of rain water in barrels that I use regularly. Our water usage is around 2,000 gallons for 3 months and we are allowed 6,000 for that same time frame. I hope this helps.


  • Angela Ley Angela Ley on May 28, 2017

    we have had ours for many years and it definitely keeps down the cost of watering our flower beds. I attach my weeping hose to it.

  • Marcie Marcie on May 28, 2017

    Yes! Cost effective and earth protective! ight now, I can't afford to get a "real" rain barrel, so I use a garbage can (with a lid, so mosquitos won't lay eggs). When it rains, I take the lid off. I usually don't have to use water from the house until mid july to august!! Pretty good for a simple solution!

  • Janet Janet on May 28, 2017

    You are so welcome, make the most of that rain after all it is Free and no added chemicals. Some people have said to me what about pollution and acid rain?? I just tell them look around, they don't call Seattle the Emerald City for no reason 👍😁 🤗

  • Nancy Wilson Nancy Wilson on May 28, 2017

    My neighbor designed a rain barrel that has the drain spout from the house going right into it. There is an overflow hole near the top and a tap where he can attach a hose at the bottom. No bugs, no chemicals, no algae.

  • Monika Cunningham Monika Cunningham on May 28, 2017

    I LOVE my rain barrels!! I have four of them. Our water bill is lower in the summer months than in the winter! I think they are well worth the initial investment. Do your homework on them though. Make sure to get rain barrels that are opaque and make sure that the over fill hoses are large enough to handle the overflow.

  • Rhonda Ryan Rhonda Ryan on May 28, 2017

    Thanks a bunch!

  • Twyla J Boyer Twyla J Boyer on Jun 29, 2017

    As hard as it is to believe (and as colossally stupid as it is), some places prohibit rain collection. Check local ordinances.

  • SandyG SandyG on Jul 01, 2017

    We have a rain barrel for watering plants and a few potted veggies. Not only money savings, but love not having to drag out the water house. Overflow goes into the yard and has faucet valve on the bottom to use also.

  • Kmdreamer Kmdreamer on Jul 07, 2017

    yes especially if you have a water meter