Rain Barrel Information

Rain Barrel Frequently Asked Questions
How To Assemble a Rain Barrel
Purchase a Rain Barrel

Purchase a Rain Barrel online or by calling 816-561-1087.

  • Rain barrel workshop (includes price of rain barrel) - $45
  • Complete rain barrel - $65

NOTE: Rain barrels must be picked up from 3 Trails Community Recycling Center.


Bridging The Gap makes house calls!
Do you have a group interested in a rain barrel workshop?
Bridging The Gap can come to you, CLICK HERE for details.


The Purpose of a Rain Barrel

Using rainwater will improve the condition of your garden or yard and is regularly available for free. The roofs of many houses in the Kansas City area receive 600 to 1,000 gallons of water with just an inch of rainfall. This rainwater hits the roof, flows to the gutters, and pours out of your downspouts into the driveway or yard. With an average of 37” of rainfall per year, tens of thousands of gallons of water could be harvested and used on your garden or lawn, reducing flooding of some rivers and water passages such as the Blue River and Brush Creek. Bridging The Gap offers workshops on how to make a simple rain barrel and harvest some of that water that is so good for your flowers and lawn.


Benefits of Rain Water Harvesting

  • Brings first-rate water right to your garden. No chlorine, no calcium carbonate.
  • Diverts water away from your house that might otherwise leak into the foundation and potentially cause flooding.
  • Cuts down on your city water consumption
  • Demonstrates water conservation to neighbors, family, and friends.
  • Keeps water right where it’s getting used, rather than sending it away to unnecessary treatment.

Rain Barrel Workshop schedule:

To register for a workshop, please contact Sadie Gardner at 816-561-1061, ext. 126 unless otherwise noted.
All workshops held at 3 Trails Community Recycling Center unless otherwise noted.

  • August 5, 7:00 PM - 8:00 PM
  • September 29, 6:00 PM - 7:00PM Please note: This workshop is hosted by Communiversity at 3 Trails Community Recycling Center. To register, please call 816-235-1448 or go to http://web2.umkc.edu/commu/
  • October 16, 2:00 PM - 3:00 PM Please note: This workshop is hosted by Communiversity at 3 Trails Community Recycling Center. To register, please call 816-235-1448 or go to http://web2.umkc.edu/commu/

Please contact Sadie Gardner at sadie.gardner@bridgingthegap.org for more information.



Comments from Rain Barrel Workshop Participants

Bill Arnold, Aquabarrel Rain Barrel:

I would like to recommend your Rain Barrel seminars to everyone in Kansas City and beyond. You have a great presentation that is both informative and fun. At the seminar I attended, I was so inspired by your presentation that I started selling and installing rain barrels myself. I, like you, believe in all the reduce, reuse and recycle possibilities in our everyday lives. These three maxims are exactly what is meant when you create rain barrels from used Pepsi syrup barrels for a functional and environmentally friendly second purpose. Thank you, Beau, for all that you and Bridging The Gap do for our community.

David, Parkville, Missouri wrote this especially for you:

“I set up my rain barrel,
and use it all the time.
My flowers just love it,
and are growing just fine.

Your yard needs one too,
so don't be a sap,
To get your own kit.
call Bridging the Gap.”

Charlene, Raytown, Missouri:
“Just wanted to let you know how much I am enjoying my rain barrel! At first, I was frustrated because I didn’t know how I was going to use the water. When it rained and filled my barrel, everything was wet and didn’t need to be watered. With a full barrel and a new storm in the forecast, I decided to use the water to water my bald cypress trees. They like lots of water! So I wrapped my soaker hose around them, an Ohio buckeye and a new dogwood tree I had planted this spring. A few hours later, they were looking happy! The hot weather had been hard on them. Next day, I got another full barrel which has been very handy watering the flowers on my deck. All summer long, I have been paying to water them, but not now! Tuesday night, I planted some spinach for a fall garden. While watering in my new planted seeds with the water from my barrel, I got the bright(?) idea to hook the hose up to the oscillating sprinkler. The low water pressure was ideal and after moving the sprinkler around a few times, I had watered my whole garden! Thanks again!”

Linda, Kansas City, Missouri:
“The rain barrel is really great! It waters a small cherry tomato garden and a flower bed which is slightly down hill from the barrel.”

What others are saying about our workshops:

  • “I'm very likely to start a water (rain) garden now.”
  • “Very informative and [the workshop] related well to DIYers.”
  • “Having [this workshop] available gave me the incentive to go ahead and start using rain barrels. Please have more sessions.”
  • “I'm now more likely to conserve water using natural solutions in caring for my lawn.”
  • “You guys (BTG) do great work!”
  • “Very interesting and informative. Time was efficiently used.”

For more info about rain barrels and rain harvesting, read our Rain Barrel Frequently Asked Questions page, How to Assemble a Rain Barrel page or visit the following websites:

  • Watershed protection - www.MARC.org/water
  • A Great Partner to Rain Barrels, Rain Gardens - www.rainkc.com
  • American Rainwater Catchment Systems Association
    www.www.arcsa-usa.org
  • Harvesting the Water With Rain Barrels by Jeannie Ralston, This Old House magazine, www.thisoldhouse.com/toh/article/0,,1180779,00.html
  • City of Bellingham, Washington, Estimated Water Consumption Calculator, http://www.cob.org/services/utilities/water-calculator.aspx.

Barrels made possible by a kind donation from Pepsi Americas logo