Decorative rain barrel

Catching rainwater as it falls is an age old idea. In fact, the idea of the rain barrel has been around for just as long as irrigation has… pretty much as long as civilization. In the last century or so, however, households have increasingly relied on municipal water systems. And collecting rainwater has taken a back seat.

Everyone with a budget and a desire to take care of the environment wants to save energy and reduce their water usage. But most households do not realize the benefits they could receive from using a rain barrel. A rain barrel is a large, specially made container that is designed to catch rainwater. These barrels are placed under your roof’s drain downspout. When it rains, the rain that falls on your roof will go into the gutters, through its drain, and out its downspout. Using this method, you can collect huge quantities of falling water.

Environmental Benefits of Using a Rain Barrel

Reduced toxins in rivers. Did you know that, though rain is good for an ecosystem, it can be bad for the environment? When it rains, the water that falls travels through our cities and streets before ending up on streams and creeks. As it flows, it collects chemicals, toxins, and other wastes. Routing some rainwater away from natural drainage reduces some of the tainted water that fouls up our rivers.

Less water use. The greatest benefit you will see from utilizing a rain barrel is, of course, water usage. In the summer time, up to 40% of a household’s water usage goes to watering their garden and lawn. Because of this, there are yearly water shortages in many cities nationwide, with rationing programs and overuse fines. If you collect rainwater, however, you can both keep your grass and garden green, and free up more water for your community.

Energy efficiency. We all know that reducing the amount of energy we use to power our homes is important for the environment. But many of us do not consider the power usage implied by using municipal water. When we use water directly from our pipes, that water must be cleaned, filtered, and pumped all the way to us. In that process, a ton of energy is used, which in turn hurts the environment.

With the use of a rain barrel, you can recycle rainwater to save thousands of gallons of water and create a ready made source of water for your plants, lawn, or day to day jobs. The only job rainwater can not fill is satisfying your thirst. Otherwise, rain barrel water is great for washing your car, watering your garden… and doing your part to protect the environment.