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Rainbarrels 101: What is a Rainbarrel?
by Jim Graves


What is a Rain barrel?
A rain barrel is a system that collects and stores rainwater from your roof that would otherwise be lost to runoff and diverted to storm drains and streams. Usually a rain barrel is composed of a 55 gallon drum, a vinyl hose, PVC couplings, and a screen grate to keep debris and insects out. A rain barrel is relatively simple and inexpensive to construct and can sit conveniently under any down spout.

What are the advantages of a rain barrel?
Lawn and garden watering make up nearly 40% of total household water use during the summer. A rain barrel collects water and stores it for when you need to water plants or wash car. Rain barrels provide an ample supply of free "soft water" containing no chlorine, lime or calcium making it ideal for gardens, flower or the potted plants.

According to the US Environmental Protection Agency, a rain barrel can potentially save most homeowners about 1,300 gallons of water during the peak summer months. Saving water not only helps protect the environment, it saves you money and energy by decreasing demand for treated tap water (i.e. reducing your monthly water bill). Diverting water from storm drains also decreases the impact of runoff to streams therefore reducing the need to build new storm water treatment facilities (i.e. reducing your future tax bill). Consequently, a rain barrel is an easy way for you to have a consistent supply of clean, fresh water for outdoor use and save money today and tomorrow.

Why not do it today!?

DOWNLOAD: How to Build a Rain Barrel (PDF) A simple schematic for building your very own low-tech, low-budget water collection system.

See Resources page for more information on how to build and where to get a FREE barrel & Vendor page for info on where to purchase..


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WHAT'S NEW

June 2, 2009

New law legalizes rain catchment >> more

E=H2O >> more

Water Needs Electricity Needs Water >> more

Rising trend of short but intense spells of rainfall is making usable water scarce in India. >> more

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Major project under way beneath new Gates Foundation >> more

Multinational company goes for rainwater in big way >> more

CO allows limited RWH, changes 120 year old law >> more

Southern Nevada Water Authority continues to block serious water management plans >>more

Graywater Primer >> more

Graywater study results can't be processed fast enough >> more

$260M in economic recovery investments to help California >> more

De-Watering Wyoming >> more

Lawton water rates could go up 75 percent >> more

What's In Your Water?: Disinfectants Create Toxic By-Products >> more

Changing climate will lead to devastating loss of phosphorus from soil >> more

LA Latest to Raise Rates >> more

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Nitrate levels high in drinking water due to lack of rain >> more

Water Quality of Potential Concern in US Private Wells >> more

Catching Raindrops Can Make You an Outlaw>> more

As climate changes, is water the new oil? >> more

New watering source is surfacing >> more

Forum Moves Water Higher Up Global Priority List > > more

UN Warns Action Needed to Prevent Water Crisis > more

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Water rates may go up by 700 percent >> more

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New Video: Reduce Runoff: Slow It Down, Spread It Out, Soak It In >> more

AQUIFERS IN DECLINE >> more

Buena Park water rates will go up 20% next month >> more

Rainwater could save BISD big bucks >> more

EPA Releases Rainwater Harvesting Handbook >> more

AWE Signs Historic Memorandum of Understanding
Forming a Water Efficiency Research Coalition >> more

Significant Purity Differences among Leading Brands of Bottled Water >> more

Bush Administration Covered Up 500+ Blocked Water Pollution Cases >> more

AWE Advises Obama's Transition Team on Investment in Water Efficiency >> more

The High Cost of High Pressure >> more

Pennsylvania American Water today
requested that customers voluntarily reduce water consumption by 5 percent
>> more

San Diego Homeowners to get a Water Budget >> more

Warming to cut Colorado water supply>> more

Green Roof Study Finds Vast Performance Differences for Cooling and Water Handling Abilities>> more

More rate increases on the way>> more

Cactus Goo Makes Water Safe >> more

Rainwater harvesting saves water, breaks the law >> more

Starbuck's with Water to Burn>> more

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Australia desal and water tank wars >> more

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Spain may be a glimpse into our conservaton future >> more

Alta, Utah sees 25% rate rate >> more

Energy is Water >> more

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FAQS

1. How do you harvest rainwater?
2. Where do you get the water?
3. What is the best way of harvesting rain?
4. Why should I harvest rainwater?
5. Do I need pumps to harvest rainwater?
6. Can I use drip irrigation or soaker hoses with a rainwater?
7. How big a yard can I water?
8. How big are rain barrels?
9. I want more pressure, how should I raise it?
10. Can I water my grass with rainwater?

and many more>>


 


 

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