You can reduce water pollution, lower your water costs, and help preserve Lake Michigan...... just by installing a rain barrel at your home! 

Rain barrels connect to your home's downspout and store the water 

from your roof during a rain storm. Even an average rainfall of one inch can produce more than 700 gallons of water that run-off a house. Without a rain barrel the water runs off the roof and across the lawn picking up anything on the ground such as litter, excess fertilizer, pet waste and motor oil. This stormwater flows into our ditches and culverts and then directly into our waterways. Rain barrels play an important role in collecting the water before it can pollute our rivers and lakes.

Rain barrels also help save you money! Rain barrels can store up to 55 gallons of water. The water that is collected in the rain barrel is water that you do not have to buy and can be used for watering your plants, trees or lawn.

The Village of Bayside offers rain barrels for sale with one barrel costing $45 or three barrels for sale for $125. You can place your order at Village Hall or online and we are happy to deliver the rain barrels right to your home.

The Village has sold 207 rain barrels since this program began in 2008, with 12 rain barrels being purchased so far this year. We know there are still many homes in Bayside that do not have a rain barrel. Pick one up for your home this week!