Saving Money and Water with Rain Barrels

Saving money and saving the environment is always a good notion.  Conserving water with rain barrels is one of those win-win good notions that will save money as well as the environment. 

Rain barrels are a great way to collect and store rain runoff from your roof that would otherwise be lost to runoff and diverted to storm drains, streams, rivers, etc…  Water captured in rain barrels is a free source of water for watering gardens and lawns and of course has the added advantage of helping the environment.

The model behind the use of rain barrels is quite simple, the more water we are able to conserve the more money we save from municipal water and sewer charges while helping save the environment by not using treated water for our lawns, gardens or other outside uses.

Utilizing the natural water which is free of chemicals such as fluoride, chlorine and other additives found in our household water saves the environment from the treated water and the treatment process and is also healthier for plants and gardens.  By collecting rainwater, you can reduce the load on your local water treatment facilities.

Use of rain barrels utilizes a natural process that reduces the burden on our existing infrastructure.  Using rain water will reduce your water bill whether you have a municipal water supply that charges by the gallon used or a well that has a pump needed to draw the water.  In addition, a number of municipalities have separate sewer charges that are based on the amount of water consumed.  For homeowners that have sump pumps in their basement, the rain barrel has another plus since they are collecting water that would normally seep into the ground next to the foundation.

Rain barrels are generally inexpensive and are practical way to save money.  Reducing environmental impact is just an added bonus.  

Rain barrels can be purchased from many garden catalogs or you can make your own following directions found on a number of web sites.  Rain barrels operate pretty much trouble free.

Whether you construct your own rain barrel or you purchase one, make sure it is securely covered, securely set and accessible for cleaning.  Most all rain barrels can  sit conveniently under any residential gutter down spout.  The rain barrels should be installed at or near ground level, on a level surface to prevent tipping when the barrel is full.  Don’t position the rain barrel near stairs or structures that would pose a danger for the area.

Make sure the rain barrel has a screen for water collection and the barrel should be slightly elevated off the ground to allow gravity feed when it is in use.  The water should be used or drained regularly to reduce the risk of mosquitoes or contamination.

Rain barrels are becoming very popular in rural and urban areas mostly for environmental reasons but the costs savings these products bring should make them even more widely adopted by those who like cheap home living.