What is a Rain Barrel?

Full definition

A rain barrel is a 50-90 gallon container placed at the base of a downspout to collect rainwater for non-potable uses (watering plants, washing cars, etc.). A diverter at the downspout routes water into the barrel until it's full, then overflows back to the standard discharge path.

In KC, rain barrels are popular but limited — a single 1-inch rainstorm on a typical roof drops 360 gallons per downspout, vastly more than a barrel can hold. Use rain barrels as a supplement, not a replacement, for proper downspout extension.

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