What's the deal with rain barrels?

If things look a little greener around here this April, there's a good reason. Our editorial staff is busy expanding the ideals of Earth Day into a month-long celebration of energy conservation, alternative transportation, recycling tips and about a million ways you can be a better friend to the planet. Welcome to Green Month, Milwaukee.

I caught up with Joe Wilson, executive director of Keep Greater Milwaukee Beautiful, and asked him a few Q's about rain barrels.

OnMilwaukee.com: Why should someone use a rain barrel?

Joe Wilson: Citizens who have the opportunity to install and use a rain barrel to collect rain water will be using water efficiently and help reduce storm water runoff. They will not only be helping the environment but also saving money by using rainwater, which is free.

OMC: How much rain does a rain barrel hold?

JW: A rain barrel holds 50 gallons of rain water. If we had 40,000 homes installing rain barrels that would divert the million gallons of water from the storm water system.

OMC: Where / how can someone find one?

JW: Rain barrels are now easily accessible. Keep Greater Milwaukee Beautiful sells a complete rain barrel with an overflow hose for $45. KGMB rain barrels are constructed locally from used commercial plastic barrels that once contained food products like soy or canola oil, pickles, syrup or other edible items. MMSD also sells rain barrels to citizens that reside in the district. You can also find rain barrels on the Internet from commercial companies but they are much more expensive.