Barrel YYC: Rain Barrels and Accessories
Building water-resilient communities.
Did you know that water use increases by up to 40% every spring and summer?
Water conservation is essential to a healthy community. Alberta is the driest province in Canada, and Calgary faces increasing drought conditions due to climate change and growing water demand. With limited freshwater resources and a heavy reliance on the Bow and Elbow Rivers, our city must take proactive steps to conserve water and protect our watershed for future generations
Rain barrels are a simple and effective way to reduce water waste and ease pressure on Calgary’s water systems. Green Calgary’s Barrel YYC program provides affordable, repurposed rain barrels that allow Calgarians to collect and store rainwater for outdoor use.
One rain barrel can capture over 900 gallons of water a year! With our barrels lasting over 15 years, using a rain barrel contributes significantly to a more water-resilient Calgary.
PRE-ORDERS SOLD OUT
OUT OF STOCK
FAQ RAIN BARRELS 2025
There are many benefits to using rain barrels, here are a few:
Water Conservation: Reduces reliance on treated city water for outdoor watering.
Cost Savings: Lowers your water bill by using free rainwater.
Healthy Gardens: Rainwater is free of chlorine and chemicals, making it better for plants.
Waste Reduction: Barrels are repurposed from food-grade containers, diverting plastic from landfills.
Protection from flooding: It protects your property from localized flooding.
Barrels are $125 + GST Use alone or link as many together as you want with a hose kit! Each barrel will hold a maximum of 45 imperial gallons (208L) and comes in blue or white, with a brass spigot, a 4” screened opening on the top and 2-1.25” side openings with plug/adaptor fittings. Limited availability.
Hose Kits are $15.50 + GST For use with our rain barrel as overflow or to link multiple barrels together. Recommended with any new rain barrel. Comes with 20'-24’ of 1.25" hose, hose clamp, and adaptor.
Rain Barrel Stands: Currently unavailable. Check back for announcements soon! An easy to assemble (no screws required) wooden stand to elevate and provide a sturdy base for your rain barrel.
The City of Calgary and Green Calgary have partnered up on a rebate program in 2025 to provide all Calgarian homeowners with an opportunity to receive $50 back on any rain barrel purchased at any retailer in Calgary after March 31, 2025.
The rebate program will start receiving applications April 1 and will accept up to 3000 submissions. Those who purchase a rain barrel from Green Calgary will also be directed to apply for the rebate. Each applicant can submit a receipt for a maximum of two rain barrels per household and receive $50 per barrel.
More information coming soon. Please check back again later.
Option 1: Pre-Order Online starting April 1st at 9 am.
Step 1: Visit our online shop and make an order for your rain barrel.
Step 2: Select a pick up location. We will have 4 pick up locations available between 9 am - 1 pm at the following locations:
- IKEA: April 19th
Calgary Co-Op, Dalhousie: May 3
The Genesis Centre: June 7
Calgary Horticultural Society: June 14
Step 3: Mark the pick up date and location, and keep you receipt.
Step 4: Pick up your rain barrel!
Step 5: Apply for the rebate program.
Option 2: Buy a barrel at one of our pick up locations.
We have a limited number of barrels that we will be selling at each pick-up location. These barrels are sold on a 'first-come-first-serve' basis, so be sure to get there early to increase your chances of securing a barrel.
Option 3: Visit Golden Acres Home and Garden
A limited supply of barrels will also be available from Golden Acre Home + Garden (620 Goddard Ave NE, Calgary, AB T2K 5X3) and will be the same price. These barrels are sold on a 'first-come-first-serve' basis, so be sure to get there early to increase your chances of securing a barrel.
Please contact Golden Acres Home and Garden for more info.
All deliveries will be handled by Golden Acres Home and Garden based on their capacity. Please contact them for more information.
Although it is fine to use rain barrel water on your plant garden and perennials, it is not recommended to use the rain barrel water on your vegetable garden. If you want to use the rainwater on your vegetable garden be aware of the risks and take proper steps to mitigate them.
There are risks of contamination from asphalt shingles and from animal waste in the eaves. This can be mitigated with a first-flush system installed in the downspouts, as well as watering the soil at the base of the plants (not on the vegetables themselves) and washing vegetables thoroughly before eating them.
It is not recommended to use a rain barrel when you have new asphalt shingles for 1-2 years, depending on the wear, as a lot more debris will be present.
The rain barrels are approximately 3 feet tall by 2 feet wide and each barrel weighs approx. 25 lbs. Capacity of 55 gallons or 208 liters.
Generally as long as the damage/leak is around the fittings on the side or tap, it can be repaired. The Barrelman will be doing repairs at multiples of our sales events – details to be announced soon. If it’s outside the regular season (past June 14th), contact The Barrelman directly at email address: thebarrelman@telus.net
3 can fit in a largish SUV, 2 can fit in a smaller SUV, smaller cars can usually only fit 1 because it is too tall for the trunk so it has to go in the backseat.
Our barrels are made from upcycled plastic, repurposed locally from food condiment barrels. They are high-grade plastic and can last over 15 years if maintained properly.
Green Calgary and the City of Calgary have endeavored to make rain barrels as cost-effective a solution to localized rainwater capture as possible, as it saves people money, is good for your garden, and helps increase resilience to drought, flooding, and stormwater runoff. A shortage of rain barrels in 2024 was from high demand and limits on production (fewer used food barrels available in Alberta to turn into rain barrels). Those challenges remain in 2025, so Green Calgary and the Barrelman have decided to support different communities, with Green Calgary focusing on Calgary and the Barrelman working with the rest of southern Alberta. This brings with it new challenges, but also new opportunities. Green Calgary is now receiving donations of raw food barrels – such as from our partners at Coke and Pepsi – and working with Goodwill Industries of Alberta to turn these into rain barrels. That said, the limits on production still exist, and so we will have fewer barrels to sell in 2025. Green Calgary and the City of Calgary still wanted to grow the support for rain barrel use in Calgary, however, so it was decided that the City of Calgary would offer a rebate program, with Green Calgary administering it as rainwater harvesting experts!
Do you have questions on how to maintain your barrel?
LEARN HOW TO INSTALL YOUR BARREL
WATCH THE TUTORIAL
