Drought & Gardening
Why Rainwater Harvesting Matters in 2026
The math on what a single rain barrel saves during a drought, and why it’s legal almost everywhere.
The Rainwater Library
Practical guides for starting a rainwater system, choosing the right equipment, understanding local rules, and putting every gallon to work.
Getting Started
Understand the rules, limits, incentives, and official sources where you live.
Check your stateEstimate how many gallons your roof can collect from a typical storm.
Use the calculatorCompare barrel capacity, diverters, placement, overflow, and basic accessories.
Shop rain barrelsLearn how to connect a downspout, control overflow, keep debris out, and prepare for winter.
Setup guide coming soonFeatured
Latest Guides
The math on what a single rain barrel saves during a drought, and why it’s legal almost everywhere.
The short version: no, almost everywhere. Here’s what Colorado, Utah, Nevada, Oregon, and Washington actually require.
How to size a barrel to your roof area and rainfall, and when a second barrel actually pays off.
A real, staged process, pre-filter, sediment, carbon, UV, and testing. Not a shortcut.
What a first-flush diverter actually does, and why skipping one shortens the life of your filter.
Explore
Legality, limits, incentives, and official sources for all 50 states.
The four-step path from an empty gutter to your first full barrel.
Sizing, capacity, and what to look for before you buy.
Downspout hookups, overflow control, and winterizing your system.
Coming soonPutting stored rainwater to work in a vegetable bed or flower border.
Staged filtering, testing, and what it takes to go from barrel to tap.
State Guides
A sourced guide for every state: the law, the rainfall math, and the right setup for that climate. Coverage is deepest for high-search states and growing every month, pick yours.
From Reading To Collecting
Start with a dependable rain barrel and diverter, sized to your roof and your state’s rules.