Rain Barrels

Did you know that for every inch of rain that falls on Los Angeles, 3.8 BILLION gallons of runoff flows to the ocean? That's water that we could capture to be more climate-resilient!

People have collected rainwater for thousands of years, all around the world. After all, water falls from the sky for free! Capturing it not only saves money, but also helps make a positive impact by conserving precious drinking water.

Every time it rains, water flows into the street and to storm drains picking up pollutants and trash on its way before making its way to the ocean, putting people and marine life in danger.

Your roof is an ideal catchment area to divert the rain – using gutters, downspouts and rain chains into a tank or rain barrel.

Rain barrels can be made from repurposed food storage containers, sleek wall units or even a terracotta­colored urn. There are hundreds of products and styles to choose from.

Getting a Quality Barrel

TreePeople hosts barrel distributions in partnership with Rain Barrels International, offering barrels at a discounted rate. Visit here for more information and our next distribution event.

TreePeople recommends you look for the following when buying or making your barrel:

• Always buy barrels or tanks from a reputable company.
• Make sure the lid can be easily removed, so the barrel can be cleaned.
• You need a lid with a screen that can also be easily replaced if damaged.
• Look for a tank that’s opaque and a darker color. Lighter and see­-through tanks will grow algae.
• You’ll need a metal faucet and overflow.
• The faucet should be located at the base of the barrel.
• Try to always choose repurposed tanks over recycled or new plastic.
• If using food grade barrels, make sure that they contained no sugar or sweetened foods. These will attract ants!

For more detailed information, download our PDF!

How to Find and Purchase a Rain Barrel

Ready to install yours?

How-To Install and Care For A Rain Barrel

Rain Barrel Distribution

Rainwater harvesting is a simple way to help create a water­-secure LA and make a difference in the face of our changing climate. You can use anything from rain barrels, rain tanks, cisterns and sustainable landscaping practices to start saving those precious drops of water.

What's even better, is depending on where you live, you can get a rebate on rain barrels and cisterns (tanks) at SoCalWaterSmart.com.

You can be part of the new LA lifestyle and get your rain barrel(s) at one of our rain barrel distributions. Pre­order your rain barrels at a reduced price of $65 + tax each through our partner, Rain Barrels Intl. Then pick it up at one of their distribution events. And don't forget to apply for your rebate at http://www.socalwatersmart.com/!