Capturing rainwater from your rooftop is a smart way to lower your water bill, help protect our lakes, streams and rivers, and conserve water. Harvested rainwater is free of chloride, fluoride, and other additives often found in municipal tap water, making it a great option for watering your lawn, potted plants, or gardens. Slowly releasing water from your rain barrel after a storm allows it to seep back into the ground. This reduces the amount of polluted runoff that enters area storm drains and eventually washes into our waters.
Harvested rainwater is non-potable and should not be used for drinking, cooking, swimming pools, fishponds or bird baths.
Dane County and the Madison Area Municipal Stormwater Partnership (MAMSWaP) are selling 50-gallon rain barrels for $78 (typically retails for ~$130), with a limit of 4 per household. This program is open to all Dane County residents. You may be eligible for a $30 reimbursement if you live in a MAMSWaP community (see the "Reimbursement Program" tab for more details). In addition, your municipality may offer a rebate on your stormwater bill for installing a rain barrel.
Pickup Locations
Rain barrels will be available for pickup at the Middleton Recycling Center or Deforest Yardwaste Collection Site, based on the pickup location you selected during checkout.
Middleton Recycling Center
Address: 4330 Parmenter St; Middleton WI 53562
Pickup Instructions: Park near the exit of the recycling center (on the south side of the building). Do not enter the building or block the exit. Have your receipt ready to show when you arrive and an attendee will be out to help you shortly!
Pickup Times:
Website: https://cityofmiddleton.us/recyclingcenter
Deforest Yardwaste Collection Site
Address: 610 N. Stevenson Street; Deforest, WI
Pickup Instructions: Have your receipt ready when you drive up, and an attendee will be out to help you shortly.
Hours of Operation: March 30 through November 22
The Madison Area Municipal Stormwater Partnership (MAMSWaP) is offering a $30 reimbursement for anyone who purchased and installed a rain barrel through Dane County (Ripple Effects) in 2024 (limited to four rain barrel reimbursements). You are eligible to apply if you meet the following:
I purchased a rain barrel through Dane County (Ripple Effects) in 2024.
I installed the rain barrel on a downspout within 60 days from the date of purchase.
To receive a reimbursement, please follow instructions on the reimbursement form, below:
Cities Villages Towns
Fitchburg Cottage Grove Blooming Grove
Madison Cross Plains Burke
Middleton Deforest Middleton
Monona Maple Bluff Westport
Stoughton McFarland
Sun Prairie Shorewood Hills
Verona Waunakee
Windsor
Contact Claudia Guy, P.E. at guy.claudia@danecounty.gov with questions regarding this program.