FAQs
We know you are excited about your rain barrel and may have questions. If it isn’t answered here, please email us at rainbarrel@rainandshine. org, and we will do our best to provide answers.
Green Light Rain Barrels are available to anyone who lives within the levee system. Rain barrels are available to both homeowners and renters. Renters will simply need to submit a landlord waiver form signed by their landlord, property owner, or manager. Green Light will provide this form.
Each resident may apply for up to two rain barrels.
A working gutter system and downspout are necessary for rain barrel installation. Our rain barrels are connected to the downspout with a diverter and hose. The diverter diverts some water into the barrel, while allowing the rest to continue down the downspout.
Please do not apply for a rain barrel unless you have a working gutter and downspout.
We request a cost-share donation to support our rain barrel program.
The cost share is on a sliding scale, $10-$500 per barrel. Rain barrel recipients will be asked to donate the cost share at the time installation is scheduled.
Green Light’s rain barrel program has a significant waitlist.
Please keep this in mind when applying for your rain barrel. The wait time for a rain barrel can be 3-24 months. Green Light operates with a small team, and we do our best to prepare, paint, and install barrels as quickly as possible.
Installations are scheduled by neighborhood.
When we are going to be installing in your neighborhood, we will contact you to schedule your installation. At that time, you will be provided links to select your barrel and donate your cost share.
When we schedule your installation, you will receive a link to select from the available barrels.
Each barrel is hand-painted and unique. We want you to love your barrel. You’ll be able to choose from the barrels available at the time of your installation.
Every barrel is an upcycled, food-grade barrel that was diverted from the landfill. Our barrels once contained things like pepperoncinis or olive mix, and now have new lives collecting rain, reducing flooding, mitigating subsidence, and helping gardens grow.
Water collected in your barrel is unsafe for animals and pets to drink. We strongly advise you not to use the water you collected for this purpose. Rain collected from rooftops can contain contaminants that can make pets and animals ill. It is fine to use this water to clean, water gardens, and for emergency things like flushing toilets, should utilities be disrupted. However, this water is not safe to consume, and any vegetables should be washed before eating.
The best way to keep your rain barrel in good working condition is to keep your gutters and downspouts clean and to use the water you collect regularly. The best way to care for your barrel is to use it! Empty your barrel between rainfalls for optimal functionality and impact.
Green Light no longer offers a backyard garden program. However, there are amazing resources for backyard gardeners in our community. We admire and appreciate the work of Sprout and Recirculating Farms, both of which offer resources for gardeners and urban farmers. For more gardening information and resources, visit the New Orleans Urban Agriculture Resource site.
We have distributed all of our light bulbs – more than 600,000 in total over the past 20 years!