Sue Holmes of Normal didn't want to waste good rainwater, so she placed buckets under her downspouts. But then she had to worry about mosquitoes.

Now she has a 55-gallon rain barrel that captures rain rushing from the roof and all she has to do is turn on the spigot for buckets of free water. A good rain will fill the barrel in about 15 minutes.

She and her husband, John, were the first to finish their rain barrel at the Ecology Action Center's first workshop in June. Using a recycled canola oil barrel and a few power tools, they made it in about 30 minutes while a storm brewed outside.

Two days later, it was full and she was already drawing water from it to feed thirsty plants.

"I use it to water everything and I just love it," she said. "I wish I had more than one."

Rain barrels aren't exactly new. Records show that nearly 2,000 years ago in Thailand, rain was collected in clay pots. But high water bills, drought-ridden summers and water restrictions in some cities are making them popular again.

And it doesn't take long for the water to add up. For every inch of rain that falls on a 1,000-foot roof catchment area, about 600 gallons is collected. The catchment area is equal to the total square feet of your house plus the extension of the eaves. Factor in if the angle of your roof directs water to multiple downspouts.

Retail prices for rain barrels start at about $100 but the EAC offers recycled barrels, along with the instruction and materials, for $20 for members; $30 for non-members.

Plants and landscaping thrive on the naturally softened rain water, said Adam Aspbury, a volunteer and ECA board member who led the class. Although you can water indoor and outdoor plants and wash the car with it, you can't drink it. As it falls from the roof, it can pick up contaminants such as bird droppings, leaves and roofing materials.

Aspbury has two barrels attached to downspouts at his Ellsworth home. Because the cobalt blue tends to stand out, he camouflages his with a trellis. But you can also hide them behind shrubs.

The barrels not only save money and drinking water but help the environment, said Caroline Wade, a former assistant director of the ECA and workshop volunteer.

"One of the big reasons we're providing rain barrels is because the water that runs off our houses runs into our yards, down the driveway, down the pavement and into storm drains. And then it flows, untreated, into our creeks, rivers and lakes."

It carries along with it pesticides, fertilizer, pet waste, even soap from car washing.

Making a rain barrel isn't difficult or time-consuming and designs can be customized, even connecting multiple barrels with plumbing materials. The barrel is attached to the gutter downspout with an adapter that connects the downspout to the barrel through a four-inch opening. But you have to plan for overflow.

"There's so many choices," Aspbury said. "There's 20 or 30 different ways you could move water away from the foundation."

One of the simplest is to attach an overflow hose near the top of the barrel, using flexible tubing or PVC pipe to direct water away from the foundation.

Don't try making a barrel out of a regular trash can; it would degrade in the sunlight, become brittle and crack under the weight of the water. Sunlight also can penetrate trash cans, promoting algae growth. Instead, use a commercial-grade plastic drum. If you're using a recycled barrel, make sure it contained a food product, not oil or chemicals.

Rain barrels should always have a lid to protect children and animals. A cover also keeps debris and mosquitoes away and slows evaporation.

To draw from the barrel, all you have to do is place a bucket under the spigot, which is installed 1 to 2 inches above the bottom. Sediment will collect in the bottom of the barrel and should be rinsed out occasionally. If you see a lot of leaves and debris, it may be time to clean your gutters.

Before installing it, make sure the ground's level. Set the barrel on concrete blocks a few inches apart to support the weight and lift it to a height that allows you to put a bucket underneath.

If it's a windy location, secure the barrel and cover with a rope or bungee cord. And if you're going on vacation, have someone check the water level or make sure you have a diverter for overflow. At the end of the season, rinse the barrel, store it where it won't freeze and reconnect the downspout.

By fall, Aspbury hopes to make rain barrel kits available for do-it-yourselfers.

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Rain barrel workshop

When: 6:30-8:30 p.m. Aug. 15

Where: Normal Parks and Recreation garage, 611 S. Linden St., Normal

Cost: $20 Ecology Action Center members; $30 non-members

Register: Ecology Action Center, (309) 454-3169 or www.ecologyactioncenter.org