Thank You For Another Successful Year!
The Flows To Bay annual discount rain barrel sale has concluded for 2025, which was our fifth year!
Did you participate?
- Eligible applicants can receive $50–$100 back per barrel (for up to two barrels) through the local rebate program! Learn more below.
- Don’t forget to add yourself to the Rain Barrel Map! Thank you for doing your part to collect rainwater and prevent pollution.
Rain Barrel Benefits
Rain barrels benefit waterways, your plants, and your budget. Below are just some of the many benefits of owning a rain barrel. Are you already a rain barrel owner? Place yourself on our map!
- With the recent water crisis and drought in California, rain barrels are one of the best ways to save money and water by cutting back potable water used for irrigation. Did you know that you can capture about 312 gallons of water for every half-inch of rain that falls on a 1,000 square foot roof?
- Rain barrels collect rainwater, which is free of the additives (such as fluoride, salts, and inorganic ions) that tap water has for sanitation. Over time, these compounds accumulate in the soil and potentially harm plant roots and microorganisms in the soil. Your plants and garden will thrive by being watered with rainwater.
- Rain barrels protect local creeks, the San Francisco Bay, and the Ocean by reducing urban runoff that transports litter, motor oil, and other pollutants into storm drains. See the video below for more information.
- Rain barrels can moderate flooding during the rainy winter season, decrease land erosion, and also reduce the amount of moisture that reaches your home’s foundation.
- San Mateo County has a rebate program that provides a rebate of up to $200. Read the details below.
Rain Barrel Rebate Amounts & Eligibility
You may be eligible for up to two rebates (one barrel per rebate), totaling up to $200 for your rain barrel or cistern purchase, including:
- Rain barrels with a 50-99 gallon capacity:
$50 (+ $50 from participating member agencies) = Up to $100 rebate per rain barrel
- Rain barrels with a 100-199 gallon capacity:
$100 (+ $50 from participating member agencies) = Up to $150 rebate per rain barrel
- Rain barrels with a 200+ gallon capacity:
$150 (+ $50 from participating member agencies) = Up to $200 rebate per rain barrel
To obtain your rebate, please APPLY ONLINE through BAWSCA!
Answer the questions below to help you determine if you are eligible for a rain barrel rebate and for how much!
Rebate Application Steps
- Review the Terms & Conditions and Frequently Asked Questions below
- Online Application: Create a BAWSCA account by clicking here and selecting the “Get Started” button and adding your user details. If you have already created an account on the BAWSCA site, login with your username and password.
- Paper Application: Fill out and mail in the paper application found here with the required documentation noted below.
- Submit your application within 90 days of the purchase, including copies of your original receipts and two post-installation images
- Get paid! Rebates may take up to eight (8) weeks to process
- The rebate application process is administered by BAWSCA. For questions or issues with the online portal or for rebate application questions, contact bawsca@bawsca.org.
Rebate Requirements & Checklist
What are rain barrels?
Rain barrels are used to collect rainwater from hard surfaces such as rooftops and store it for later use. They are low-cost systems that allow you to supplement your water supply with a sustainable source and help preserve local watersheds by detaining rainfall. When you install a rain barrel at your home you are helping to maintain a healthy urban watershed by reducing the demand on the potable water system to irrigate your garden, and by reducing the amount of wet weather runoff that is collected and sent into the public stormwater system, which goes untreated into our bays and estuaries.
Are rain barrels a good option for me?
Rain barrels and cisterns are appropriate for sites with the following characteristics:
- Roof areas that drain to downspouts.
- A level, firm surface to support a rain barrel to prevent shifting or falling over. A full 55-gallon rain barrel will weigh over 400 lbs.
- A landscaped area where captured water can be used (and where it can be drained by gravity flow) located within a reasonable distance.
- A landscaped area or safe path to the storm drain.
How much water do rain barrels save?
The amount of water that can be collected from a rooftop depends on several variables, including the dimensions of the rooftop, the collection capacity, and the amount and timing of the rain received. Be sure to do some calculations to determine how much rain barrel storage capacity you need. Typically, 1,000 square feet of roof surface can capture 625 gallons of water for every inch of rainfall. That can calculate to over 11,000 gallons of stormwater capture from each home per year!
How do I use the water collected in a rain barrel?
Collected rainwater can be used for landscaping irrigation, for filling birdbaths, or other nonpotable water use such as rinsing off tools.
San Mateo County requires that rain barrels must not be connected to any other water supply system, including sprinkler systems that are connected to your home’s water supply. This is to prevent the water from your barrel, which is not treated, from mixing with the public water supply. The best way to prevent this is to only hook a garden hose, or an isolated drip irrigation system, to the outlet of your barrel and use it for watering your landscaping directly. Also, if you choose to fill your rain barrel with water from the garden hose for storage and use later, never put the hose inside the barrel, as unintended suction can contaminate the water in your home and the public water supply.
What type of water can be collected in a rain barrel?
Only rainwater should be diverted into a barrel. Do not divert waste water from appliances or other sources to your barrel. This water is considered “grey water” and can contain bacteria that will flourish inside the barrel over time.
Can I drink water from my rain barrel?
DO NOT DRINK WATER FROM YOUR RAIN BARREL! Water from your roof is not safe to drink,
but it is fine to water your yard. It is not recommended to water edible gardens with your rain
barrel.
Do rain barrels attract mosquitoes?
An enclosed rain barrel or one that has a screening at the point at which water enters the barrel (as required in the rebate program) should not attract mosquitoes and prevents them from laying their eggs.
Place Yourself on the Rain Barrel Map
Join your neighbors in the rain barrel movement. Enter your address below to put yourself on the map and show that you’re using a rain barrel to catch every last drop. Thank you for doing your part in water conservation and pollution prevention.
Please note that by placing yourself on the map, you will also receive our monthly newsletter. Only addresses within San Mateo County will be displayed on the map below.
Rain Barrel Videos
The connection between rain barrels and stormwater pollution prevention
Watch this video to determine if a rain barrel is right for you
Additional Rain Barrel Resources
Links & Fact Sheets
How Rain Barrels Can Prevent Stormwater Pollution
With the majority of our cities and neighborhoods covered by impervious surfaces (such as pavement and buildings), the rain which once soaked into the ground now flows over these surfaces and into our local waterways. This rainwater picks up pollutants (such as litter and pet waste) and toxics (such as pesticides and automotive fluids) and travels unfiltered into our creeks and streams, ultimately ending up in the San Francisco Bay or Pacific Ocean.
The good news is that we can all take simple actions that can go a long way to lessening the burden on our waterways. Beyond ensuring your cars aren’t leaking oil, picking up your pet’s waste, and using eco-friendly pesticides, you can also reduce the amount of water reaching your storm drains with a rain barrel.
Rain Barrel Installers
Below are some resources to help with your rain barrel installation. Please note that the Flows To Bay program does not endorse any particular installer. The list below is a starting point for your rain barrel installation search.
- Alan Hackler | alan@baymaples.com | (408) 642-1860 | baymaples.com
Installs any sized system - Joseah Rosales | joseah.rosales@gmail.com | (650) 400-0396 | greywaterlandscapedesign.com
Installs larger systems (260+ gallons) - Terra Bella Landscaping | (831) 479-1629
Installs any sized system - WATERMARK h2o | (408) 690-7581
Installs any sized system - Chris Corvetti | Barrels of Rain | (518) 417-1774
Consults on rain barrel installations and DIY projects - B. Mano Tondre | DIG Cooperative | (510) 560-4865 | dig.coop
Designs and builds integrated water recycling systems
Discount Code With BlueBarrel
Flows To Bay is working with BlueBarrel Rain Water Catchment Systems to provide San Mateo Residents a one-time 10% discount off purchases in their online store using discount code FlowsToBay.
BlueBarrel's unique expandable and affordable system will allow you to select a system size that's perfect for you. Each barrel captures up to 55 gallons of water, making it easy for you to get the most out of the San Mateo County Rain Barrel rebate.
BlueBarrel provides a lot of resources, including a volume calculator to help you estimate your rainwater catchment potential, tips on how to measure for a BlueBarrel System, as well as help on finding the perfect location for your barrels. The BlueBarrel blogs also have a ton of useful information, ranging from how to paint food-grade barrels to different overflow solutions.
Watch the short video below as BlueBarrel owner and Founder, Jesse Savou, talks about the various ways someone can use a BlueBarrel system at home.
