http://www.care2.com/greenliving/catching-rain-with-rain-barrels.html
Catching Rain with Rain Barrels
By Melissa Breyer, Producer, Care2 Green Living.
When I was young we used to hightail it outside, clanging pots in hand, at the first whisper of a summer storm. It was our firm belief that shampooing with rainwater imbued our hair with magic. Girlhood diversions aside, the truth is that harvesting rainwater may be more important than we realize; here we give you the rundown on collecting rain and why it’s so important.
According to the UN, 20 percent of the world’s population in 30 countries faces water shortages. This number is expected to rise dramatically by 2025. Although water is something that many of us take for granted, 1.2 billion people don’t have access to safe drinking water. And consider this: While the average American individual uses between 100 and 176 gallons each day, the average African family uses only 5 gallons.
Fresh water from underground aquifers is finite—there is only so much of it, and because of pollution and the rate at which it is being extracted—well, the word “crisis” comes to mind for many. However, rainwater is considered a renewable natural resource. And while domestic potable water collection requires effort, energy, and chemicals for purification and transport, rainwater conserves natural resources, is free of chemicals, and is delivered without challenging the environment.
The easiest way to collect rainwater is with rain barrels, and harvested rainwater is great for your lawn, garden and houseplants. Especially in the summer months, many of us have intense heat accentuated with brief yet heavy summer storms—with a dry ground much of that water simply runs off.
By setting a rain barrel beneath your downspout you’ll have a free supply of water for your landscaping. Wooden barrels provide rustic charm, but plastic ones are more widely available. You can buy ready-made rain barrels (check with your water company or municipality, first, as many provide them free of charge or at a reduced price). Alternatively, there are many websites that provide instructions on how to build your own. You may not be ready to make the commitment to a more permanent system, but you can always start out by placing plain buckets underneath your downspouts just to get your feet wet.
Use a lid to minimize evaporation and to keep out debris and mosquitoes. A hose fitting will give you easy access to the collected water, and a diverter lets you switch back to the downspout, or another barrel, should the rain barrel get full. Don’t expect to be able to use a hose directly from your rain barrel; gravity probably won’t give enough pressure to get water through it. Instead, use the hose fitting to conveniently fill a watering can or slow delivery containers.
If you have a garden or tool shed, heck, even a playhouse, why not attach a gutter and barrel there as well? If you have a collecting (or “catchment”) area of 1,000 square feet and an average annual rainfall of 20 inches, you have the potential to collect 24,000 gallons of water annually—the equivalent to the water 13 African families use in a year.
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32 comments
add your comment »There is a school garden in Tigard, Oregon that recently added rainbrrels. To check out Woodward Gardens's rainbarrels and get tips on using rainbarrels go to: http://www.betterlivingshow.org/Woodwardgardensrainbarrels.asp
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I have a gorgeous Cascata rain barrel in my backyard. In fact, my neighbours often mistake it for true terracota!
Check out the pictures on my blog:
http://garden-pond-accents.blogspot.com/2008/05/great-new-pictures-of-my-rain-barrel.html
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I have a really gorgeous Cascata rain barrel in my backyard! My neighbours often mistake it for true teracotta! Check out the pictures on my blog:
http://garden-pond-accents.blogspot.com/2008/05/great-new-pictures-of-my-rain-barrel.html
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Hey Melissa! Good for you..if we all tried to use more of the water provided by God and Nature, we'd all be healthier, happier and reduce dependency on utilities. i use rain for everything..from washing my face to watering my plants.If you run it through an organic coffee filter,it makes your hair soft after washing. My dogs will drink nothing but rain I collect and they are 8 years old and very healthy. I also have a recycled pond (well scrubbed out!) that I let fill with rain and after a good downpour, if it's warm enough, I slip in for a cool SOFT bath at the end of a weary day. I call that really living..and I have had fun finding ways to use it..not to mention saving $$ and myself from horrible Florida city water! LL
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Hello Everyone~
I have recently started down the path of getting green & am wondering what can be done with collected rainwater? Besides watering plants can I use it for laundry, bathing, cooking, drinking?? In the next 5 years I plan on being completely off the grid & it would be just wonderful if I could use rainwater for everything! I live in southeast Iowa. We get our fair share of precipitation throughout the year.
Thanks for any & all replies :)
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Regarding those that need containers for water collection. Even those in the boonies can bring in collection units that will work - typically made of plastic that are suitable even for holding rain water. These are typically made from roto-molded plasic. However, if you really cannot find anything, some have used steel grain bin panels and then lined them with a plastic liner that is suitable to the final purpose, i.e. drinking water or for watering plants. This system can even be flown in to remote areas.
For those with wells - you need to have the well uncapped by professionals involved in the industry and you need to have the water checked for suitability for the purpose, i.e. drinking water, water plants that are edible, water plants that are ornamental, and make sure if you do uncover it to create a well station that children cannot get into.
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my dad's mum and Dad collected rainwater in a massive barrel in their backyard/garden I wasso excited when I saw melon skins floating as boats rain giving them more power to race
Rooty J
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At my little Row-home, there isn't much gardening space. So I won't need to use all the water I collect if do get a rain barrel. Is there a way that we can donate the water we don't use? As we all know, a lot of people don't have safe drinking water (as stated in the article). There must be away that the rainwater that we collect and don't use can be used to help other people.
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i also live in San Diego and found that i can request recycled water from the city - for irrigation. but i'd also like to implement some sort of water collection system to catch water in case of water shortages, emergencies, etc.
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I have been catching rain water for many years. I have just been using plastic garbage cans to hold the water. I also have them in my house so that during the winter time (freeze here)I can water my indoor plants til spring.
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