Success StoryRain Barrel Giveaways Promote Water Conservation and Save Homeowners Money



Rain Barrel Giveaways Promote Water Conservation and Save Homeowners Money

Author: DJ Scully

Planning Unit: Campbell County CES

Major Program: Water and Soil Quality and Conservation

Plan of Work: Environmental Management - Environmental Awareness, Education, and Action

Outcome: Long-Term Outcome

The average American family uses 320 gallons of water per day, about 30 percent of which is devoted to outdoor uses. More than half of that outdoor water is used for watering lawns and gardens. Nationwide, landscape irrigation is estimated to account for nearly one-third of all residential water use, totaling nearly 9 billion gallons per day. - EPA

Rain barrels capture water from a roof and hold it for later use such as on lawns, gardens, and indoor plants. 

Collecting roof runoff in rain barrels reduces the amount of water that flows from your property reducing stormwater pollution.

It is a great way to conserve water and it's free water for use in your landscape. 

The Campbell County Extension Service in conjunction with the City of Newport sponsored free rain barrel giveaways targeting urban residences to promote water conservation in our county. These events occurred at the Newport Public Works Facility. Installation, use, and winterization instructions were provided by the Extension Agent for Natural Resources and Environmental Management.

50 homeowners participated on July 23, 2022. Each indicated through Qualtrics surveys collecting and using at least 90 gallons of rainwater to irrigate their yards and gardens last summer.

100 homeowners participated on March 17, 2023, and will report their collection and utilization efforts in the fall.

According to the EPA, rain barrels can save the average homeowner 1300 gallons of water per year.






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