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.

View rain barrels

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

Buy a rain barrel. Not only will it help the environment, but it will also help your wallet. This artilcle discusses some of the reasons why you should want to buy a rain barrel.

There is an immediate need for water conservation because the world’s available supply of fresh water is shrinking; one way to help conserve water is with the installation of a rain barrel.

Right now there are 600 million people in the world who are living with water-scarcity problems. According to Population Action International, by the year 2025 there will be between 2.7 billion and 3.2 billion people who are living in water-scarce or water-stressed conditions. The two main contributors to the water problem are global warming, which turns fertile land into arid deserts, and man-made creations, which alter ground- water run-off patterns.

Each North American consumes an average of 350 liters of water inside the home each day. There are parts of the world that do not have any fresh water yet much of our valuable drinking water is wasted in our yard. We have to remember, however, that treated water does not provide any added benefit for plants. City watering restrictions are usually put into place for these warmer months. Even with restrictions that cities put on water during this time, water usage often increases up to 50% in the warm weather, due to lawn and garden watering.

One of the easiest things you can do to save water while still watering your plants, is to install a rain barrel. A rain barrel hooks up to the downspout of your home to collect and store rain water until it is needed for your lawn and garden. Rain barrels help the environment, help to water your plants, and help to accentuate your backyard decor. For example, Algreen’s rain barrels are very elegantly designed, with smooth clay-like contours, and an elegant planter on its top. Algreen’s rain barrels are made in Canada and are designed to withstand a Canadian winter. They include a lifetime warranty on the enclosure, and the Cascata rain barrel now comes in a Deluxe Model which includes a pump-driven watering system.

Author: Gerry Fung

For more information about Algreen’s line of rain barrels and composters, go to GardenSuperMart.com

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

5 Great Rain Barrel Designs

Rain barrels are actually great DIY projects where you can make your own for less than $15. You can also buy some pretty snazzy models.

Buy Rain Barrels and More

So, I have been thinking that it would be good for all of us to work on making our house a bit more green. I would like to buy rain barrels and more. I was thinking that I would start with a rain barrel and maybe a compost bin.

Mother’s Day Eco-Friendly Gift Ideas – Gifts To Help Mom Go Green

What would your mom (or wife) want with a barrel of rain water? There’sa lot of uses for collected rain water that are good for the environment and her water bill.

Watering Plants – Buy a Rain Barrel

One way to ensure that your plants are getting the moisture they need without breaking the bank is to install a rain barrel. Rain barrels harvest free water that’s relatively pure and great for watering garden plants.

Thrifty Green Gardening

Buy a rain barrel – just an inch of rain from part of our roof runoff filled our 55-gallon barrel last week. We’ll use that to water the garden and our freshly planted trees until it runs out (or rains again).

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Rainwaterbarrel.org is dedicated to providing quality information on the subject of rain water barrels.

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