In St. Croix County, It's not necessarily rain, but rain barrels that are in high demand.

Bob Heise says the St. Croix County Land and Conservation Department can barely keep up with rain barrel orders. He says that's because by using old food containers, workers can whip together the rain barrels and sell them for about $30. Heise says if you look for a one on-line or in a store, they could cost you anywhere from $75 to $200. Heise says that's why the County wanted to step in to help promote the barrels.

"If you're in town and paying utility fees, you'll see a reduction in costs. You can reuse it for gardens and watering plants and it could lead to a savings. It's a good starting point to get people thinking about other conservation measures," Heise says.

He says if you have a 1000 square foot roof, and get one inch of rain, that can equal 600 gallons of water. The barrels hold about 30 gallons.

Right now only people in St. Croix County can apply for the department's barrels. But, it's a program the Eau Claire City/County Joint Commission plans on looking into.