How to collect rainwater — and what to do with it around the yard — will be the subject of discussion at the next German Village Garten Club meeting.

Jonathan Meier, co-owner of Rain Brothers, a local firm that installs private water systems, will talk about rainwater harvesting and irrigation at the meeting, slated for 7 p.m. Feb. 20 at the Meeting Haus, 588 S. Third St.

The meeting is free and open to the public.

Meier said the benefits of the system include using the runoff to water plants and grass and mitigating stream erosion by keeping rainwater out of storm sewers. The most basic system, 65-gallon plastic barrels that connect directly to a downspout, is easy and fairly inexpensive to install, he said.

“Rain barrels are the most affordable, simplest way to not only save money on the water bill and conserve water, but also reduce stormwater runoff and watershed pollution while providing your landscape or garden with fresh, nonchlorinated water,” he said.

Basic kits are $89, or $134 if Rain Brothers installs the system, Meier said. Larger and more expensive rainwater-collection systems, including underground cisterns, also will be discussed.

Many German Village houses have been outfitted with cisterns, water from which was used indoors, outdoors and by fire departments in the past, Meier said. Some property owners are unaware of the systems, he said. Rain Brothers can fix them and bring them up to current standards.

Exterior changes to homes in the neighborhood, including installation of rain barrels, must be approved by the German Village Commission, the local architectural review board.

Meier said he has encountered little opposition to the effort by other commissions and neighborhood associations.

“Everyone’s been supportive of the idea,” he said.

Jay Panzer, chairman of the German Village Commission, said no one in recent memory has applied for a certificate of appropriateness to install a rain barrel.

“This is a great rediscovery of a very old technology, which has the dual benefit of lessening water consumption and lessening the load on our storm sewers,” Panzer said. “When undertaken in a thoughtful manner, this would seem to be a win-win for residents, our community and the environment.”

Carol Porter, a member of the garden club, said it is a “very interesting topic but also very timely as we get into our planning season for this summer’s activities.

“We’re all looking at how to conserve, not just our environment, but also our pocketbook,” she said. “Gardeners are looking for ways that we can cut costs but still have beautiful gardens tourists can see when they come to historic German Village.”