- Home
- What We Do
- Water Quality
- Green Stormwater
- Rain Barrels
Rain Barrels and Tanks
Why Harvest Rainwater?
Capturing and reusing your rainwater is a great way to reduce polluted runoff while collecting free water for your plants and garden. Almost any home or building can collect rain in small barrels that can be used to water pollinator and vegetable gardens.
For those with more space and watering needs, a larger rain tank can provide you with free, reusable water, for much of the summer.
Whether you're harvesting rainwater in a barrel or a tank, you're helping to reduce stormwater runoff during heavy rains. And by using the water later, plants can soak up that water during dry times of the year, which can save you on your utility bills.
Rain barrels are great projects anyone can do to start capturing rainwater. Small barrels can hold 50 - 80 gallons of water, making them easy additions to any home. To help you get started, the Pierce Conservation District hosts rain barrel workshops throughout the year with our partners to provide discounted materials and directions for how to assemble your own rain barrel. Sign up for our upcoming rain barrel workshops today!
Need more water? Consider getting a rain tank! These large cisterns can hold 200 - 800 gallons, giving you plenty of water for your gardens during the dry summer months. With a little help from PCD, you can start harvesting rainwater to use in an easy-to-use irrigation system for your yard.
You can find more support to get started by visiting our resources page.
| Rain Barrel Sale | Get everything you need for a rain barrel for just $25! | Check here to see if there's a workshop near you today! |
| Green Stormwater Mini-Grant | Get up to $4,000 and support to harvest rainwater in a rain tank | Apply for a mini-grant by Oct. 29 |
| Splash Grant | Get up to $4,000 to support a water quality project in Tacoma | Click here to learn more |
| Watershed Council Grants | Get up to $2,500 for projects that help recover one of Pierce County's three watersheds | Find grants available for your watershed here |
How It Works - Rain Barrel Workshops
1. Sign Up for a Free Workshop. Workshops are offered throughout the year for different residents in Pierce County. Click here to see if there's a workshop coming up near you!
2. Enjoy Big Discounts. PCD is able to offer your everything you need to start harvesting rainwater for just $25!
3. Assemble Your Rain Barrel. At our workshop, you'll follow simple step-by-step instructions from PCD staff on how to assemble your rain barrel.
4. Collect Rainwater. When you get home, connect your roof's down spout so it fills up your new rain barrel and wait for it to fill up.
5. Reuse Your Rainwater. When the rain stops and your plants need some water, enjoy using your saved rainwater as you soak your garden.
Want to Harvest More Rainwater?
Get a Rain Tank!
For help getting started, Request a site visit to see if a rainwater harvesting is right for your property. Fill out this form to get started and PCD staff will follow up to schedule a visit.