There are a few ways to go about setting up a rain barrel, and you'll need to think about the specific circumstances in your yard, as well as how you intend to use the water.

Capturing rainwater can serve as a cost-effective alternative to using tap water for watering landscapes and ornamental gardens.

In this Sept. 13, 2009 image released by Alice Snider, a decorated rain barrel, “Butterfly Garden,” is connected to a downspout in a backyard, where it will capture rainwater for watering ...

In this Sept. 13, 2009 image released by Alice Snider, a decorated rain barrel, Butterfly Garden, is connected to a downspout in a backyard, where it will capture rainwater for watering garden ...

A downspout diverter lets you “harvest” the rain by redirecting water from the downspout into the rain barrel or cistern. If the tank is full, an automatic overflow control directs water back ...

With rain in the forecast in southern Colorado today, there’s a way you can use this moisture to your advantage. We’re talking about rain barrels! These were banned up until last year, but now ...

To collect the runoff from your roof, just install a rain barrel under a downspout. Harvesting rainwater in this manner is an easy way to collect and store a valuable resource for use on-demand ...

The downspout then conveys overflow to his rain garden full of native plants. Most other barrels will have the overflow on the side of the barrel.

When the rain barrel is not in use, the tubing should reconnect back to the downspout. Many municipalities experience a 30 percent to 40 percent increase in residential water usage in the summer.

You want to put a rain barrel at a downspout close to where you want use the water. A single-residence can have two rain barrels with a combined capacity of 110 gallons.