Rain Barrels

A rain barrel slows stormwater down and temporarily stores it for reuse in the garden. This cuts down on your water bill and reduces stormwater runoff, the leading cause of pollution in the Elizabeth River! Keep in mind that the water needs to be used in between rain events. If the barrel remains full during a rain event, then the water exits the overflow and there is no stormwater benefit.

Scale & Design

This system is functional at both residential and commercial scales and can easily be retrofitted.

Installer

An easy DIY project!

Estimated Costs

$100 – $500

Suppliers

Bushman 130 gal Rainwater Harvesting Slimline Tank (commercial only)

Lowe’s or Home Depot frequently stock rain barrels, and you can make your own with recycled materials!

Cost Sharing

Residents of Chesapeake, Virginia Beach, or any city that has a Soil and Water Conservation District, are eligible for $4/gallon cost-sharing on rain barrels through the Virginia Conservation Assistance Program (VCAP). The city of Norfolk offers at 10% reduction of stormwater fees for rain barrels through the Stormwater Fee Reduction Program.