YardSmart - Rain barrels
Capturing and using rainwater for your yard
Make every drop count: Collect and reuse rainwater
Calgary is facing a drought. Now, more than ever, every drop counts. We all need to do our part to conserve water and use it wisely.
Using a rain barrel is a great way to capture and reuse rainwater in your yard, even when outdoor water restrictions are in place.
Your plants will appreciate the soft, warm water, and you will also help reduce the amount of rainwater runoff that enters our rivers and creeks untreated.
Buy a rain barrel from Green Calgary
Rain barrels cost $78 +GST each for a limited time during the spring season. Use alone or link as many together as you want with a hose kit.
Calgary's average rainfall of 5 cm per month will provide approximately 4,000 litres of water. That can fill a typical 45-gallon rain barrel 20 times.
Pre-order details:
When you pre-order your barrel, you can pick it up from any of the locations listed below or have it delivered to you. Delivery costs are $35 for the first barrel, $10 for each additional barrel and $0-10 for accessories (based on weight).
Rain barrel sale locations/dates:
- April 27th – IKEA (8000 11 Street SE)
- May 4th - Dalhousie Co-Op (5505 Shaganappi Trail NW, Calgary, AB T3A 1Z6)
- May 11th – Calgary Horticultural Society (2725 33 Avenue SW)
- May 25th - Deer Valley Co-Op (1221 Canyon Meadows Dr SE #95, Calgary, AB T2J 6G2)
- June 1st – The Genesis Centre (7555 Falconridge Boulevard NE)
- June 8th - West Springs Co-Op (917 85 St SW #100, Calgary, AB T3H 5Z9)
- June 15th - Inglewood Community Garden (2297 17 St SE, Calgary, AB T2G 3V6)
- June 22nd - Community Natural Foods Chinook (202 61 Ave SW, Calgary, AB T2H 0B4)
Pre-orders are currently sold out, but you can still get a rain barrel by:
- coming to one of the sale events listed above;
- visiting Golden Acre Home & Garden (check for supply);
- joining a waitlist for when we open up regular delivery.
Setting up your rain barrel
Please read the installation instructions carefully and refer to the barrel manufacturer or retailer for support. You can set up one rain barrel, or multiple rain barrels - each attached to a downspout or connected in series.
Ensure your rain barrel is on a stable and wide surface to prevent it from being pulled or knocked over. And, for safety's sake, ensure your barrel has a secure cover.
Make sure the overflow drain pipe or your downspout is set at least 1.5 metres (five feet) away from your house.
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For more information about setting up and maintaining your rain barrels.
Additional resources
Seasonal rain barrel maintenance
When cold weather arrives, here are a few quick actions to keep your barrel from cracking:
- Completely drain your barrel of water.
- Remove and store taps and place barrel in a protected area away from strong winds.
- Always remember to remove your diverter and reconnect your downspout.
Please note: Collected rain water is not potable, which means you shouldn't drink it or use it on food crops.
Risks of using collected rainwater
Rain barrels collect water that runs off a large surface, such as a rooftop. Every catchment area is unique and therefore the quality of water collected by rain barrels is unpredictable and could change each time a barrel is filled.
The primary risks associated with roof-top collected rainwater are bacterial pathogens, mostly those transmitted by birds and small mammals.
The pathogens most carried by these types of animals are Campylobacter and Salmonella. These two pathogens are the most common cause of foodborne illness and have often been detected in studies looking at the water quality of rooftop collected rainwater.
If an individual chooses to use collected rainwater for food crops at their own risk extra precautions can include:
- Drip irrigation (as opposed to spraying) for watering gardens
- 'Base of plant watering' to prevent possible contamination of above ground fruits and vegetables
- Washing all fruits and vegetables with mild detergent to remove as much contamination as possible
Green Calgary’s rain barrel program is sponsored by:
