Rain Barrels
What do they do?
Rain Barrels trap and store large volumes of rainwater. They are containers designed to trap and store rainwater. They can be huge, complex systems that use pumps and linked barrels for storage, or single plastic or wooden drums that catch rainwater swirling along roof gutters and out of downspouts.
What's the cost?
Depends on the gallonage. Begins at about $90.00 and goes up
Interesting Factoid on Rain Barrels
1-inch of rain on a 10,000 square foot roof yields 623 gallons of water. Calculate the yield of your roof by multiplying the square footage of your roof by 623 and divide by 1,000. Depending on your roof area, a rain barrel can fill up when there has been as little as 1/10th-inch of rain. To collect twice this volume from the same downspout, connect the overflow hose from the first rain barrel to a second rain barrel.
Concerns with Rain Barrels
The water quality can be of concern.
Roof construction materials should not be treated cedar shakes or materials containing asbestos.
The gutter system should not have lead solder or lead-based paint, and bird droppings should be cleaned from gutters and the roof as needed.
Depending on location, air pollution would also be of concern.
Be careful of algae.
Overall, water quality isn't too much of a concern unless being consumed.
Benefits of Rain Barrels
- When municipal water districts are experiencing water shortages and consumers are being hit with higher water and sewage bills, you have back-up free rain water
- Reduce potential basement flooding by directing water away from house foundations
- Reduce the amount of water running into lakes and rivers, thus reducing erosion and helping prevent stormwater pollution of lakes and waterways
- Work well on smaller properties
- Conserve water and control runoff
Why install it?
Harvesting rainwater makes good sense.
Doesn't contain the dissolved mineral and salts typically found in well water.
Helps the environment.
