Rain Barrels Can Help Save the World

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by: georgewonderman
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Word Count: 485
Date: Tue, 23 Dec 2008 Time: 5:27 PM
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We lived in a row house in the city for years and years and did not have a big enough yard to even worry about watering when the weather was hot and dry. We recently moved to a house with a bigger yard that requires more maintenance and attention. My husband is adamant about not watering the grass in our yard, even when we hit a hot and dry patch with the weather. Luckily, the majority of our neighbors have the same opinion. The bushes and other plants, however, do require some attention. A dry spell can do them in. The rainfall in our area has been above normal this year. There were also weeks of high temperatures that parched even the most resilient plant. My kids often left their sand buckets outside and they would be full after it rained. I wished I had a bigger version of that, so I could utilize the excessive amounts of water that went unused after those huge rainstorms. It was time for some rain barrels.
I read that watering gardens and lawns consumes a surprising 40 percent of the household water supply during the summer. 40 PERCENT! Capturing rain water with a system of rain barrels can decrease the demand on our municipal water supplies significantly. The state of Maryland estimates that a homeowner could save 1,300 gallons of water during peak summer months by utilizing rain barrels. Water is already scarce in many places. It should not be squandered. City sewer infrastructures are more frequently overflowing during downpours, due to population increases. Rain barrels can decrease the demand on those systems. In a world where almost nothing is free anymore, rain water is one of the exceptions. Harnessing rain water via rain barrels is the cheapest way to water your plants and lawn. Having a stash of water in rain barrels also allows you to water at your leisure, if your city has any water restriction times. Rain water also does not contain chlorine, unlike public water sources.
Rain barrels attach to your gutters and downspouts and store the water for future use. Rain barrels come in all shapes and sizes with a wide price range. There are basic plastic barrels, or a fancy pottery barrels that will dazzle your neighbors. I recommend child proofing your rain barrels, which means making sure all barrels have a secure top or are too narrow for a child to get inside. If mosquitoes are an issue in your neighborhood, cover your intake with a filter. Rain barrels with overflow hoses and a spout are also very handy.
Everyone should be utilizing rain barrels. Even if you do not own your home, get your landlord on board and offer to install a barrel yourself. Help your bottom line and the world by installing some rain barrels. I am embarrassed that my environmentally conscious household waited so long to do it.

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Find more info regarding how to make a rain barrel, click to palmettorainbarrels.com.

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