Common Waters

Rain Barrels Save Money and Protect the Environment

May 13th, 2009 Posted in May 2008

Have you been lying awake at night, wondering “what’s a rain barrel and why do I need one?” Of course you haven’t. But in this bummer economy it’s likely that you have spent restless hours worrying about ways to save money and cut costs.

One way you can reduce your water bill is by purchasing a rain barrel (or two).

A rain barrel connects to your rooftop downspout, collects rainwater and stores it. The water can be used for non-drinking purposes in the household, or for lawn and gardening needs.

It is relatively inexpensive to buy a rain barrel. At the time of this posting, rain barrels cost $90 and up at Home Depot, but you may find a sweeter deal from your local watershed organization (mine is selling them for $50-$60). For those who are mechanically inclined you can make your own barrel for about $15 (this video shows you how).

Now That You’ve Purchased a Rain Barrel

After bringing your barrel home, choose a location for it near your gutter spout that is on a level surface. Pick a permanent position. The reason for this is that a typical 55-gallon rain barrel, when full, weighs about 459 pounds; moving this beast is not recommended! Also consider lifting the barrel off the ground in some fashion (bricks, concrete blocks, or a table work well) to make it easier to access and obtain water from the barrel.

Some buy two barrels and connect them via a hose. When one becomes full, the second barrel comes on duty.

Finally, I challenge those of you that are artists to decorate your barrels with paint or other media. I’ve seen some very creative designs. Here are a few over at Treehugger.

Benefits

Not only can you reduce your water bill by installing a rain barrel, you will also be helping the environment!

Diverting rainwater from your street to your garden or lawn can help keep pollution out of our waterways. The more people that use rain barrels, the greater the effect we can have on the health of the Chesapeake Bay.

Rain picks up everything in its path as it makes its way from your neighborhood to your local stream and on to the Chesapeake Bay. Known as stormwater runoff, it can include particulates in the air, chemicals leached from roofing materials, trash, fertilizer, pesticides, animal waste, oil and automotive contaminants, sediment and more. Stormwater runoff contributes a fair amount to the pollution found in the Chesapeake Bay. (See this post about Stormwater from the Chesapeake Bay Foundation’s website for more information.)

When you channel stormwater from your roof to the rain barrel, and then apply the water to your lawn or garden, the soil absorbs and filters the contaminants before they enter local tributaries and the Bay.

Another perk to owning a rain barrel is that you will conserve water. We only have a certain amount of water on the planet, yet as our population continues to grow, so too the demand for water. The U.S. is already running out of water in certain areas and we are in danger of experiencing more severe shortages (google “running out of water” to explore this topic).

Safety Concerns

Rooftop rainwater is not safe to drink because it may contain pollutants. Make sure that everyone in your family knows NOT to drink the water from the rain barrel, and if you have small children, be sure they can’t gain access to water from the spigot. Also be sure your rain barrel is securely positioned so it will not topple and harm anyone.

Sleep Better at Night

Your family can make a difference by learning to conserve water and by educating those around you about the benefits of rain barrels. You might even sleep more soundly knowing that your water bill is lower, and that you are doing your part for the environment.