Can use of Rain Barrels reduce water consumption costs

11/26/08

Rain water that is typically lost to runoff, streams or sewers can be collected from your roof and stored in rain barrels. Rain barrels generally consist of a 55 gallon drum, a vinyl hose, PVC couplings and a screen grate. It simply has to be positioned underneath the gutter of your roof and it will collect the rain water while it is pouring.

Rain barrels are a good way to harvest and conserve rain water. Using rain barrels serves the twin objective of reducing the cost of water usage and also helping during shortage of water. Throughout heavy rains, if used properly one can store as much as an entire barrel full of water. A rain barrel can collect the rain water pouring on the roof which can be later utilized around the house. The collected rain water can be employed in maintaining your garden and flowers or washing cars or windows. In a given year one can save up water enough to last one whole summer depending on the number of rain barrels that are put to use. A typical rain barrel can save close to 1,300 gallons of water during the peak summer months.

The benefits of using rain barrels not only include the cost cutting on water expenditure. It provides soft and natural water that is good for the plants. Rain water is untreated containing no chlorine, lime or calcium and therefore really good for the garden and washing your car and windows. Rain barrels can be used at locations where it is inconvenient to have a spigot. In dry periods when water is in short supply, rain barrels make for a good provision of water. Not to mention that using rain barrels is a great way to conserve rain water which is one of the most abundant natural sources of water.

The rain barrels should be kept securely covered to prevent the hazard of children or pets falling into it. Also, the water in the rain barrels should not be used for cooking, drinking or bathing. In case any kind or spray or medicine is used on the roof, then the barrel should not be used in the first few rains. To make the spout readily reachable, the rain barrels should be kept at a height for convenience. For more hoarding ability, more than one barrel can be used. They can be connected with one another to be able to collect and store more rain water.

On a different note, even though rain barrels can be constructed at home some of the tools needed are quite specialized and expensive. Not only is the process lengthy and time consuming, but it also requires a lot of skill to get all the parts right. Contrastingly, it is easier to buy ready made rain barrels as they are readily available and spares one the time and energy required to make one.

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