How To Install A Rain Barrel

The Metropolitan Water Reclamation District of Greater Chicago (MWRD) has partnered with Openlands to produce a “how-to” video demonstrating a proper rain barrel installation. This video is part of the MWRD’s rain barrel program which offers rain barrels at cost to Cook County, Illinois residents. Rain barrels capture rainwater from your roof and save it for when you need it. You can use rain barrel water for watering house plants and gardens or washing cars and tools. Disconnecting your downspouts and installing rain barrels will also keep clean water out of the sewer system and help reduce basement backups and flooding. To learn more about acquiring or installing a rain barrel, visit mwrd.org or call your local Cook County municipality. Click below for printable instructions!
tinyurl.com/2xt9dh93
Disclaimer: With proper installation, maintenance and use, your rain barrel should function properly. The Metropolitan Water Reclamation District of Greater Chicago and Openlands assume no liability for the installation, maintenance or use of your rain barrel. We are not responsible for any rain barrel malfunction; property damage or injury associated with your rain barrel malfunction; property damage or injury associated with your rain barrel, its accessories or contents.

[@haledragon1]

good job! keep posting!

[@heatherbenek1114]

Thank you, using this as a guide for my first rain barrel!

[@4BWVan]

Nice video! I didn't realize it was so simple

[@Alejoproa82]

Thank you so much Gabriella!! amazing video so easy to follow I'm going to installed my rain barrels today!!

[@shake2908]

Oh wow. Thanks. Thought I may have to hire someone but I’m sure I can do this. Perfect tutorial!

[@peggyclementz128]

Clear,thorough steps,but hoping to enlist some help. Liked materials list!

[@bohemianation]

I have 3 barrels a total of 150 gallons when full. Typical watering can holds 2.5 gallons of water. It takes 20 watering cans to water my garden so you can see 150 gallons can go quick. This season im closing in on 1,000 gallons

[@trueword247]

Thank you for your efforts in managing stormwater! I'm sure your garden - and water bill - thanks you as well!

[@shannonk1351]

Gabriella you're a rock star. :)

[@joannsimonelli72]

Thank you for this video!

[@madgepickles]

Great video, thank you

[@donttreadonme1367]

Anybody watching this for your new garden this viral season?

[@jeffcunningham9632]

The hose diameter will handle the overflow during a high period of rainfall? Seems small to me and that the barrel will overflow it’s rim during this (probably) short but possible period of time. Maybe drain the barrel before a storm to avoid. Thanks for the short video.

[@PartyUpLive]

Definitely plan on doing this. I want to have two barrels side by side. I thought about 3 but seems like overkill? Will have someone install them though as the area I want to put them a downspout will have to be added.

[@AChi__]

You though 3 barrels would be an overkill? I've got 7 barrels and I've been fighting myself to keep me from getting two more 😆

[@harsh8986]

Does it come with a screen to keep the leaves out that comes with the storm water from the gutters

[@2c4u222]

Fantastic! Does your rain barrel have a screen to keep mosquitos out?? Hope so!

[@trueword247]

I just received two the other day. The screen comes with it, but not pre-installed.

[@jiva3497]

Does the rain water glowing down the flexible spout splash out of the top of the rain barrel and splash onto the building before going into the barrel in a hard rain?

[@trueword247]

It can. Especially if you have a screen installed and all the more if the screen has been clogged with debris like leaves. A greater concern with a prior rain barrel I had was overflow when it rained a lot. So, all that to say, the rain barrel does require some attention. A second rain barrel to catch overflow is a great idea if you expect a lot of water and like to have at least one mostly full barrel.

[@whiteweasel13]

To anyone planning to do this in their yard: don't use it on crops. Rain barrel water captured in this way is not considered potable, since it's running off of your roof. It's perfect for ornamentals/grass/etc but you shouldn't put this on something you plan to eat later.

[@UltramaticOrange]

me, at 0:05 - shit, this looks like any given neighborhood in Chicago them, at 0:10 - "We've teamed up with the metropolitan water reclamation district of greater Chicago..."

[@arvinl]

What do you do in winter season? store inside garage or leave outside?

[@OGutzVentura]

A Lyons take them inside with no water. if they're left outside, even with a small amount of water, I will. freeze and crack your bottom of the barrel. it will be a total waste.

[@PartyUpLive]

@@OGutzVentura interesting. What about those that don't have a place to store them inside? I thought you could drain them completely making sure they were dry with no water. I ask because I know people thinking about these but say they don't have space to store a 55 gallon barrel indoors.

[@mikee1891]

@@PartyUpLive You can flip the empty rain barrel upside down - keeping it on the stand - and re-attach a straight downspout piece directing water away from the house for the winter because there will inevitably be SOME water going through the downspouts in the winter. :-)

[@trueword247]

You may leave it outside but do not leave a significant amount of water in there lest the freezing temps cause the ice to expand, thus damaging the barrel. Personally, I just re-directed the plastic spout back to the original downspout to accommodate melting water off my roof during freezing months.

[@trueword247]

@@PartyUpLive They do not need to be stored inside during winter. They are very durable, just not made to hold significant amounts of FROZEN water.

[@jenniferherrera2351]

Hey, the link to the instructions no longer works. :(

[@mwrdgc]

Hi! Thanks for pointing that out! Here's a new link to view printable/downloadable instructions (the link is updated in the video description, too). tinyurl.com/2xt9dh93

[@luismarrero1625]

why connect a hose to the top of the barrel wouldn’t that defeat the purpose of gravity to water the garden

[@kenritzenthaler3067]

Yes this is definitely a mistake. For an official video for newbies this is unacceptable. So much more needs to be discussed

[@blusnuby2]

It is an OVERFLOW hose, directing water from filled barrel to another barrel, or away from your water barrel/house area.

[@pa.fishpreacher6166]

Why didn't you explain the faucet and the overflow attachments?

[@ironwill8596]

Great idea but Chicago taxes rainwater

[@ryanstroh4505]

TAXES rainwater? You have to be kidding me.

[@queenofcheap6310]

Taxes on rain water?? Heavens, here in Australia all newly built homes MUST come with a water tank & those of us that add one or more, we just have to display a small sign saying "Tank water in use". That is because when our dams are low on water, people & the Authorities know it's rain water & we NEVER would get changed for using something that would just go down the drains then out to sea. So sorry if you live in Chicago 😱

[@illb10minsl8]

Do a little research, some states will forgive the rain tax if you use rain barrel(s).

[@blusnuby2]

Move to a RED state---if any still exist after 2024....

[@trueword247]

I'm not sure in what area you live but it was the City who gave me my first rain barrel and they never taxed or questioned my barrel further. It is in the city's interest that people use rain barrels. I have lived in the city 25+ years and never heard of rainwater being taxed.

[@videoswithvince9596]

Hooking up a hose to the rain barrel to water your garden or wash your car is pointless unless you are OK with a trickle of water pressure. I notice not a word is mentioned about this even though you claim that 'washing your car and watering your garden' is possible with this system. The rain barrel needs to be significantly higher than the area you plan to water in order to get decent water pressure. Even after installing the largest spigot possible (which I did) you will still get an inadequate amount of flow. After doing further research, I learned that indeed, one needs a water pump to obtain a reasonable amount of water pressure. This system is good for placing a watering can directly under the spigot but useless for a hose hook up without a water pump.

[@trueword247]

True. The pressure is low. What you do with the water is your choice. Personally, I've found my greenery responds better to rainwater than tap water so i've mostly used it as a source of water for directly watering plants of my interest during dryer periods of weather.

[@ccpcccp8696]

Хай 💃👍

[@MattMatusiak]

Cost?

[@joycenotine283]

Often your county, town, or state will have programs to get them at a reasonable price.

[@erikavrabel6713]

The problem with this video is it doesn't tell you what to do about the hole from the removed gutter.

[@trueword247]

The hole? The water is to be redirected with the flexible downspout extension. During winter, the extension may be re-attached to the original downspout.

[@skamravec]

the only problem is that the water runs off of asphalt shingles full of carcinogens

[@trueword247]

Rain barrel water is not potable. However, the water from your roof will go somewhere, no matter what contaminants may or may not be in it. Rain barrels are one option for reducing greywater processing (using industrial processes) and for reducing residential clean water consumption (which cleansing processes also require industrial measures).

[@lorenpiller266]

How unsafe is this project. I will stop watching now.