Category: Rain Barrels

Catch the Fall rain with a discounted rain barrel!

An outdoor rain barrel is filled with colorful flowers.

Our spring rain barrel sale opens September14! If you’ve been thinking about buying one, this is the perfect time.

While supplies last, New Castle County residents who pledge to be a Clean Stream Champion can purchase an EarthMinded Rain Barrel for $50 (a 66% discount!). There is a limit of two barrels per resident, and you must purchase online before pickup. We have a few different pickup dates and locations, which you can choose during checkout.

Rain barrels have many benefits. They help reduce polluted stormwater runoff, soil erosion, and flooding. Plus, using the rain barrel’s stored water around your landscape can save money on your municipal water bill. It’s also a good water source for your plants. Rainwater is softer than tap water and does not contain chlorine.

It’s a win-win all around. Hurry—these barrels go fast!

Get a Rain Barrel

Fall Discount Rain Barrels!

The Fall 2026 Rain Barrel sale is now open – barrels will go fast!

New Castle County residents who pledge to be a Clean Stream Champion can purchase an Earth Minded Rain Barrel for $50.

Rain barrels collect free rainwater to water gardens, trees, and lawns and even wash cars, which can save on your water bill. They also help limit stormwater runoff pollution and erosion by diverting water. Installing a rain barrel is one of the easiest ways to reduce your household’s water footprint and help keep our streams and other waterways clean.

The only requirements are that you live in New Castle County and you’ve pledged to be a Clean Stream Champion! If you already have one rain barrel, now is the perfect time to buy a second! Supplies are limited. Multiple pick-up days and locations are available.

Get a Rain Barrel

Install Your Rain Barrel Today!

Updated: May 2025

Thank you to all the Clean Stream Champions that took advantage of the discount rain barrel program this spring. We were astounded by the turnout and are proud to announce that we’ve provided over 400 discount rain barrels to date! We are proud of the New Castle County residents that came out to claim their barrel, but we do have one burning question: Have you set up your rain barrel yet?

If you haven’t, stay with us a moment, and know that everyone’s been there. A bold fashion choice purchased on impulse that hangs in your closet, unworn. Fresh produce purchased in excess because it looks too good to pass up that ends up spoiling in your fridge. A rain barrel that can save you money and help the environment, but sits in your garage…you get my point.

We’re here to say: Today is the day! This is your weekend! Each rain barrel comes with all the necessary pieces for assembly, and by the next time it rains, you can be doing your part to conserve water and limit stormwater runoff. Just one 50-gallon rain barrel can save up to 1,150 gallons every year.

If all 640 Clean Stream Champions who took the pledge in March and April of 2025 assembled their rain barrels, that would mean saving up to 480,000 gallons by May 2026!

So breathe in the fresh spring air, pick a spot, and start assembling. Need help? Check out the installation video from EarthMinded Rain Barrels. If you’re feeling particularly excited about your rain barrel, we’d love to see it! You can share your photos with us by sending them to support@cleanstreamchampion.org and we might just feature them on the Clean Stream Champion website. If you need even MORE inspiration, check out the featured pictures of New Castle County rain barrels in action.

Haven’t purchased a rain barrel yet and want to? Sign up to be a Clean Stream Champion to be alerted for the fall sales!

Rain Barrel Winterizing Tips

Winter’s coming, and those plunging temperatures that turn rain into ice and snow signal that it’s time to winterize your rain barrel. We know you wish you could use your Clean Stream Champion rain barrel all year long, but it’s important to prepare it for winter so it can last for many years to come. We put together a list of tips to best protect your barrel so that it will be ready for action come springtime! 

  • Disconnect the water source for the winter so that no additional water runs into your barrel.
  • For the EarthMinded Rain Barrel from our rain barrel program, the kit came with a plug for disconnecting the hose from the downspout.
  • For other barrels, you might need to connect a temporary downspout extension to your gutter, which should be positioned so that rainwater is directed away from the house.
  • Use up or drain the rain barrel so there is no water left inside. Water left in for the winter may freeze and crack the barrel.
  • Open the barrel’s spigot and leave it open while not in use to avoid freeze damage to the hardware of the barrel.
  • Rinse the interior of the barrel. Now is a good time to clean the barrel of sediment build up that occurs in many rain barrels during the rainy season.
  • If you have the space, move the rain barrel to an indoor storage area to extend the life of your rain barrel. If you have no storage or prefer to leave your rain barrel outside, then be sure to turn the barrel upside down.
  • Cover your rain barrel with a tarp for additional protection.