Listen to the Cry of the Earth
and the Cry of the Poor
Rooftops are great ways to collect water into rain barrels. In a typical Massachusetts spring and summer, 5 inches of rain on an average-sized, 1,000 square-foot roof would yield more than 3,000 gallons of rainwater, and church roofs are usually much bigger than that. Rain barrels are one way to conserve water and reduce pollutants from running off to local streams, rivers, and ponds. Collected water can be used for outdoor tasks such as watering gardens or lawns, washing cars, and doing other household chores. In Massachusetts, there are many local rain barrel resources and distributors, including some local governments who help homeowners. Mass.gov has compiled a bulk of information on obtaining or making your own rain barrels.