In case you haven’t heard, rain barrels are now legal in Colorado. As of Aug. 10, 2016, Coloradans can use up to two 55-gallon rain barrels per household.

Now, rain barrels certainly won’t solve everything when it comes to Colorado’s water supply gap. They simply can’t store enough water to make a huge difference. But every drop counts in a geographic area with a climate as unpredictable as Colorado’s.

And just as important as the water saved is the education rain barrels provide. Indeed, using rain barrels equates in many ways to managing and operating your very own, fun-sized water system, complete with rooftop watersheds, downspout rivers and tunnels, barrels-turned-reservoirs and garden hose pipelines.

Check out our infographic to illustrate the metaphor and show how you can learn to manage a water system of your own. And for even more information about how to get started, the Colorado Division of Water Resources has you covered.

Now all we need is some more rain!