Rain barrels
Rain barrels capture rainwater from roofs that would otherwise enter storm drains and streams.

The Environmental Protection Agency states that lawn and garden watering are nearly 40 percent of total household water use during the summer. Rain barrels provide a consistent supply of clean, fresh water for outdoor use—free of charge.

Saving water not only helps protect the environment, it saves money and energy by decreasing demand for treated tap water. And diverting water from storm drains also decreases the effects of runoff to streams, preventing pollution and protecting water quality.

A rain barrel collects and stores rainwater from rooftops to use later for lawn and garden watering. Water collected in a rain barrel would normally pour off your roof directly or flow through roof gutter downspouts and become stormwater runoff. Depending on your yard, this runoff can travel onto paved surfaces and eventually into a storm drain, which drain straight to freshwater bodies like creeks and streams. Rain barrels are relatively simple and inexpensive to construct and sit conveniently under residential gutter downspouts. A rain barrel is composed of a 55-gallon drum, a vinyl hose, a spigot, PVC couplings and a screen to keep debris and insects out. Where to buy Hardware stores and garden centers are likely bets to find parts for rain barrels, or whole kits. Nonprofit organizations often sell them, too, including Bridging the Gap and Habitat for Humanity’s ReStore in the Kansas City metro area.

The City of Lenexa Parks and Recreation department and Rain to Recreation program also offer classes on building rain barrels. From these classes, we’ve developed detailed instructions for building and painting rain barrels. Contact Mandy Stark, outreach and education specialist, for more information.

Rain Barrel Parade Artists, designers, students and citizens are invited to submit designs for a citywide rain barrel campaign this summer. Lenexa’s Rain Barrel Parade is a public art exhibition that places rain barrels designed and decorated by local artists throughout the city. Part of Rainscapes, a citywide education campaign that promotes water conservation and water quality practices, the Rain Barrel Parade will showcase rain barrels’ role in capturing and recycling water to residents, businesses and industries. Learn more or download the application.