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TextRain Barrel Workshops
Why Rain Barrels?
Rain barrels can be attached to your downspouts to capture runoff from the roof. By installing a rain barrel at your home you will:
Provide your plants with water they will love! Unlike treated water, which is "softened" with dissolved minerals, rain water is naturally soft. The water stored in your rain barrel is better than municipal water for washing your car and watering indoor or outdoor plants.
Save money and water! Instead of water from the tap or faucet, you can use the water you've saved to keep your home landscape happy and growing. You'll also reduce your municipal water bill!
Protect the Chesapeake Bay! Water stored in your rain barrel is water that won't rush off into our streams. Instead, as you use the stored rain water around the home and garden, it will absorb slowly into the ground replenishing groundwater supplies. By decreasing the volume of storm runoff, rain barrels also help moderate stream erosion and the resulting pollution that is impairing the Chesapeake Bay.
Rain Barrel Workshops
Rain barrels purchased from
mail order or retail sources can be prohibitively expensive. As part of a
regional initiative, the district offers build-your-own rain barrel
workshops and distributes low-cost rain barrels to Fairfax County
citizens. At the workshops, you will learn how to install and maintain a
rain barrel and take one home!
Upcoming Rain Barrel Programs
Build-Your-Own Workshops
- Saturday, June 13th, 9:30—11:00 a.m. Hidden Oaks Nature Center, 7701 Royce Street, Annandale, VA 22003.FULL!
- Saturday, June 13th, 11:30 a.m. —1:00 p.m. Hidden Oaks Nature Center, 7701 Royce Street, Annandale, VA 22003. FULL!
- Saturday, July 18th, 2:00 p.m. —4:00 p.m. North Hills Pavilion, 1325 North Village Road, Reston, VA 20194.
Distribution Events
- Saturday, June 20th, 2:00—5:00 p.m. Falls Church Property Yard, 7100 Gordons Road, Falls Church, VA 22043.FULL!
Look for additional events in fall 2009.
Fees & Registration
Registration is required for all programs. For each program unless otherwise noted, registration closes a week prior to the event. The materials fee per barrel is $50 for build-your-own workshops, $60 per barrel for distribution events. Limit: 2 rain barrels per person.
To register on-line, visit http://www.arlingtonenvironment.org/barrel.htm. A $2 surcharge will be charged per barrel for on-line registration.
To register by mail, download a registration form and fill out the required information. Make sure to indicate which workshop you'd like to attend. Send the registration form with your check made out to NVSWCD to: Rain Barrel Program, Northern Virginia Soil & Water Conservation District, 12055 Government Center Parkway, Suite 905, Fairfax, VA 22035. Your registration will not be confirmed until your check is received. Questions? E-mail the rain barrel program or call 703-324-1428, TTY 711.
Refunds & Cancellations
Refunds will not be issued for cancelled registrations or no shows. If you are not able to make a workshop for which you are registered, please notify the rain barrel program immediately. We will do our best to re-schedule you for a subsequent program. Only one opportunity to re-schedule will be given.
Rain Barrel FAQs
What do the rain barrels look like and where do you get
them?
The rain barrels are made from black, grey or blue
plastic barrels that used to hold pickles, peppers or onions. We purchase
these barrels from a variety of barrel distributors, and recycle
them into rain barrels.
How large are the rain barrels?
The rain barrels hold approximately 50 gallons. They are
23 inches wide. The range from 41.25 inches to 43.75 inches tall.
Will I get mosquitoes in my rain barrel?
The rain barrels are capped with fiberglass screen that
allows water in, but keeps mosquitoes from getting into the barrel to lay
their eggs. However, if you are concerned about mosquitoes breeding in
your rain barrel, you can add half a Mosquito Dunk to the water in your
barrel to kill mosquito larvae. Mosquito Dunks can be purchased at most
garden supply stores.
I can't make a rain barrel workshop. Do you have suggestions
for places to order rain barrels or purchase a barrel so I can
build my own?
We have a list of sustainability resources
available to download that includes sources for rain barrels. A list of
suppliers is also available on the
Arlington County web site.
I have my rain barrel at home. How do I install
it?
Download our installation
instructions. If you need additional assistance, we have compiled
a rain barrel accessories
list that includes contact information for local installers.
I prefer not to shorten my downspout. Is there another way to hook up
my rain barrel?
Another option for installing your rain barrel is to use a downspout
diverter. Diverters can be manual or automatic. The main advantage of the
diverter is that it can be used to regulate the flow of water into the
rain barrel. Often you also don't have to shorten your downspout, but you
will probably will still have to cut into the downspout to install the
diverter. Sources for diverters are available on our rain barrel accessories list.
Is the water in the rain barrel safe to use in my vegetable
garden?
There are differing opinions on this subject. Rain barrels
that collect water from copper roofs or from roofs where wooden shingles
or shakes have been treated with CCA (chromated copper arsenate) to
prevent moss or algae growth should not be used on edible plants. If you
have treated your roof with chemicals or installed zinc strips to prevent
moss or algae growth, you should also not use the water in your rain
barrel in your vegetable garden. Other considerations include the
potential for air pollution in your area. Water flowing from your roof
can contain deposited air pollutants. However, this water may end up in
your vegetable garden anyway. No matter what you decide, make sure to
wash all your garden produce thoroughly before you eat it!
Who is working with the district on the rain barrel
program?
The following organizations and agencies: Clean Virginia
Waterways, Arlington County, 
Arlingtonians for a Clean Environment, the City of
Alexandria, the City of Falls Church, the Reston Association, Fairfax
County Master Gardeners, Fairfax County Park Authority, Fairfax County
Public Schools, Fairfax County Department of Public Works and
Environmental Services and numerous individual volunteers.
For 2008-9, this project is funded from the Virginia Water Quality Improvement Fund provided by the Virginia Department of Conservation and Recreation (DCR), via DCR Grant 2007-WQIF-06.
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