Rain Water Barrel

Rain barrel collection systems are a terrific and effective way to store water. This article discusses why rain barrel collection is something you should consider doing for your home watering needs.

Now that the "first flush" rain of the season has arrived, it’s time to consider banking some of the next wet currency in storage containers for outdoor use next spring. Water or lack of it due to restrictions in many Bay Area communities is forcing people to take a closer look at how they use water and consider new strategies to help stretch their water options.

During a typical rainy season, most communities see an average rainfall of 30 inches. For a 2,000 square foot home, that means approximately 37,000 gallons of water will run off the roof and down the storm drain.To counter this lost opportunity, a San Anselmo company, California Rainwater Conservation Systems, LLC is selling super-sized rain barrels. "The beauty of these 200 and 300 gallon barrels is that they are completely self-sufficient systems," says company president Andrew Vance. "During a storm, the system can also redirect water to other spots on a homeowner’s property by connecting the overflow valve to a regular garden hose. This process of sinking water at its origin helps replenish the aquifer through filtration which, ecologically, is a far better option than sending run-off through flood-prone drainage systems."

Rain storage systems draw a comparison to an insurance policy for landscaping. During uncertain times such as the present state drought, residents can bank water to use later on. In extreme conditions such as the 80’s drought, many remember choosing which plants were expendable and which ones received their recycled bath or dish water.

More frequently, extreme conservation measures are on the drawing board for many California cities. Just this past week, an emergency water conservation plan was presented in San Diego that would create a property-by-property water budget for residential customers. The East Bay water district has also called on residents to make significant (19%) reductions in water use or incur considerably higher water bills. In Palo Alto, Santa Cruz and Santa Monica, a rebate program for rain barrels encourages customers to conserve by creating value around their water use and ultimately, behavioral modifications.

Whatever the forecast for this winter’s rainfall, water conservation is here to stay and rain harvesting is a measurable tool in this effort. What’s missing? Two words, awareness and initiative. The idea is there, the technology is there, but the initiative is missing in both individual homeowners and public entities. More education on the matter is needed. Rebates for homeowners who want to put in rainwater storage systems are needed. Above all, awareness is needed. Awareness that there is a problem and awareness that there is a solution.

Author: Patti Vance

Next community rain barrel distribution day: Sunday, November 23rd, 9:00a.m. to 4:00p.m. 1601 Sir Francis Drake Blvd., Fairfax Ca. For more information go to: http://www.Calrainwater.com (permission to use photos from website)

Patti Vance is the founder of California Rainwater Conservation Systems, LLC and is an accredited member of the American Rainwater Catchment Systems Association. She also serves as a board member for the Environmental Education Council of Marin. Website: http://www.calrainwater.com

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Patti_Vance

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Rain Barrels barrels, rain, rain barrel collection, rainwater, storage, store, systems

Rain barrells are a great way to save money on your water bill and allow you to collect and store rain water for later use in your garden and landscaping. This article reviews rain barrells and how they save you money.

The entire "green" industry is progressively focusing more and more on environmentally friendly production and products. With increased incentives backed by government agencies as well as the general consensus that environmental stability needs to start now, more and more companies are developing new innovative products to adhere to this. In some ways it’s a shame that the only way to cause change is through monetary incentive programs or the need to be trendy, the counter-argument is the need to put food on the table or fuel in the yacht or the increased cost of doing business.

Whatever the case may be, positive change is good relating to the environment. Now this isn’t stating change can only happen through big business, even the end consumer, can have a major impact. So you might be asking, where’s my incentive program? The answer is, certain products can actually save you money, and this isn’t just pocket change. Hundreds of dollars per year really adds up: take a minimal amount, $350 per year. You save that in a high interest savings account, 20 years down the road you have close to $10,000! Want to start saving money today? An excellent and reliable option is rain barrels.

So what is a rain barrel? Rain barrels are basically rain collectors that are placed at the base of your down spouts around your home. If you have ever noticed how much rain water pours out of these spouts during a sever rain storm, you can see the potential this product boasts. And the advantages are simple, during a storm these barrels fill up, when it comes time to water your grass again, you can attach your hose directly to the barrel. These rain barrels have the ability to hold a lot of water, most can hold 60-100 gallons!

With this product you save in numerous ways: watering grass is expensive, you will notice a drastic decrease in your monthly water bill with the usage of this product, grass replacement can be expensive and labor intensive, this products ensures your grass stays healthy and green, and lastly having extensive water around the foundation of a home can be risky. Many of the down spouts found around homes, directs water into a pool which then seeps into the ground and can potentially cause major problems with leaky basements and water damaged foundations.

Many products are on the market claiming to save you money, and some of them will. The advantage a rain barrel has, is the fact that not only does it save you money, it truly can be a visual-appealing addition to your yard. These rain barrels are very enviro-wise, they also have a very modern look which results in a very stylish piece of garden dcor for your backyard or home landscape. Various colors and textures are available, making them adapt easily to your dcor style. Take the positive step towards environmental stability and make a rain barrel a part of your home! The rain barrels will save you money, in a stylish fashion.

Author: Shawn Mcculloch

Shawn McCulloch has been a contributing writer to gardensupermart.com for 3 years. He is a water gardening enthusiast who enjoys wildlife, sports, and travel.

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Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Shawn_Mcculloch

Your Questions About Rain Barrels Answered

Conserving water is uncomplicated and infinitely sustainable with a rain barrel. It takes nothing but a barrel, a hose, and a spigot.

Use Rain Barrells to Save Your Rainwater

This is a good argument for installing a rain barrel or two at the outflows of your home’s rain gutter system, and using the water you capture for plant watering. It saves scarce water resources, too.

Gardening Seattle Style

We installed our rain barrel a couple years ago but never added an overflow. I had grand dreams, at the time, that we’d eventually add a couple more barrels and collect all the water we needed for summer watering. Someday we’ll do this.

Making Our Own Rain Barrel Soon

We picked up these 55 gallon food grade barrels. We will turn these into Rain Barrels. Simple and an easy way to get the most out of our infrequent rains.

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Rain Barrels barrel, barrels, collect, collectors, rain, rain barrells, store

Rainbarrels are a great way to conserve water around the home and garden and this article discusses different ways you can save water including rain harvesting.

Tips and information on saving water at home and in the garden.

As the warmer months approach, now is a good time to start thinking about how you can save water over the summer months and beyond. We often think of the water in our taps as a never ending supply, but in fact it is very important to conserve water, as only a very small amount of the earth’s water is fresh, about 3%. And when you consider that almost 70% of that is frozen, there is not much left for human consumption. The threat of global warming and the issues of lower rainfall that may bring to some areas, also means that we need to start thinking now about how we can reduce our water consumption.

There are actually many simple ways to save water around the home, reducing your dependence on mains water and therefore also saving you money. Some everyday tips include only using the water required in pans and kettles, not running the tap whilst brushing your teeth, showering rather than bathing and making sure that washing machines and dishwashers are only used when full. None of these cost anything to implement, but some additional very inexpensive water saving devices can help further. Install a Hippo in your toilet cistern to reduce the amount of water used to flush, and invest in a water butt for your garden to collect rainwater. This can then be used to water the garden or wash the car. Whilst not reducing your overall water consumption, you are lowering your dependence on mains water where drinking-quality water is not necessary. 

More expensive options are full rainwater harvesting and greywater recycling systems. Rainwater can be used for household tasks such as toilet flushing and in washing machines, whilst greywater (water previously used in handbasins, showers and baths) can be processed to be reused in toilets and washing machines. These systems are more of an investment but can significantly reduce your dependence on mains water.

<< SIDENOTE: Rainbarrels can be very cost-effective and rather inexpensive for collecting rain water. >>

The summer months in particular can see an increase in water consumption due to the needs of a garden. As well as using rainwater as much as possible, you can reduce the amount of water needed with a few simple measures. Water plants in the early morning or evening to reduce evaporation and use a watering can rather than hose or sprinkler. Don’t worry about watering your lawn as grass is very hardy and will soon recover even if it turns brown during a hot spell.

All of these water saving tips can really help to reduce your water consumption. Try to think carefully about any water you use and you will soon see a difference in your water bill.

UK Energy Saving
UK Energy Saving Home Page

By Hayley Jones
Published: 5/27/2008  

Rainbarrels Around The Home

Also known as water butts in the UK and rainwater tanks in many parts of the United States, rain barrels are water containers wherein rain water from rooftops is collected and stored.

Protecting the Environment with a Rain Barrel

Collecting falling water in a barrel or container is not a revolutionary new idea. The concept of a rain barrel and other types of rain catchers has been in use as long as agriculture… pretty much as long as civilization.

Installing Rainbarrels, Rain Chains, And Underground Cisterns

In January’s Sunset Magazine there was a short article about installing rain chains, rain barrels and cisterns in order to collect rain water, and I was really interested in it because I was planning on doing at least 2 of them.

Rain Barrels And Gardens

Saving money and the environment often go hand-in-hand, a match made on Earth.

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