Every Drop Counts
Our Vision
We envision a flood-resilient Houston where every household can capture and reuse rainwater to protect homes, conserve water, and build stronger, more resilient neighborhoods.
Our Mission
To reduce flooding, conserve water, and strengthen Houston’s climate resilience by expanding access to rainwater harvesting through education, community partnerships, and the equitable distribution of rain barrels.
Our Core Focus
Bayou Barrels partners with Houston-area households and community organizations to promote rainwater conservation through rainwater-harvesting systems. We conduct educational workshops and live demonstrations, provide guidance on system installation and maintenance, and explore how decentralized rainwater capture can contribute to more equitable flood resilience. To make rainwater conservation more accessible and equitable, we also offer rain barrels at a nominal cost, with free barrels available to select households and communities based on need.
Stormwater Runoff
Houston’s extensive impervious surfaces—roads, rooftops, and parking lots—increase stormwater runoff, strain drainage systems, and contribute to flooding. Capturing and reusing rainwater can reduce runoff and ease the burden on Houston’s drainage infrastructure.
Water Conservation
Houston relies heavily on municipal water systems. Capturing and reusing rainwater can reduce reliance on potable water for landscaping and other non-potable uses.​​​​​​​
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Environmental Inequity
Lower-income neighborhoods often have limited access to stormwater management resources and tools that can strengthen community resilience.
Collaborations
Our Impact
10
​Rain barrels distributed
​
24,222
Estimated gallons of water captured annually
30
People
Guided
$820
Funds raised
Estimated annual capture capacity is calculated using total installed barrel capacity using 50 gallon rain barrels, average Houston rainfall, and projected refill frequency. Actual performance varies by rainfall, roof area, usage, and maintenance.
