Rain Barrels for Water Conservation
Drum, Flat Back, Collapsible and Planter Style Rainwater Storage
Feb 25, 2009
Rain barrels come in many different styles, from simple wooden barrels to water storage tanks, to rain harvesting that doubles as a planter. Every style of rain barrel helps homeowners reduce home water use. To ensure the safety of children and pets, always check to ensure that any style of rain barrel has secure openings.
Save Water And Reduce Peak Water Flow With A Rain Barrel
Save water! Yard and garden irrigation can account for nearly half of the water used in a home. In the rainy season, excess water pours into the street, leading to storm sewers that overflow. Downspout disconnection and rainwater harvesting allows gardeners to use this water for irrigation.
Rain Barrels: Outdoor Green Building
Rain barrels are an addition to any green building and an effective way to store water for the dry season. Instead of using treated water in the garden, harvest rainwater to irrigate the garden. Rain barrels attach to a downspout or a rain chain. Commercial cisterns provide a sealed water source with a tap that is just as easy to use as a garden hose.
A visit to a local garden or outdoor center or a green building supply store will help the home gardener decide what style of rain barrel is appropriate.
Drum-Style Rain Barrels
The traditional drum-style rain barrel can be wood or plastic. There is an area to place a downspout diverter or a rain chain, and a simple tap so that gardeners can use the water.
Flat Back Rain Barrels
Flat back rain cisterns are designed to sit tightly against an exterior wall. From the front, they look like a traditional drum style rain barrel, but the back is flat. This makes flat back rain barrels a good choice for pathways between homes or townhouses or for corners where space is at a premium.
Collapsible Rain Barrels
Collapsible rain barrels like the Waterbank are made to fold away when they are not in use. They must be inflated to be used. If it is going to be necessary to move the rain barrel, a collapsible barrel might be a good choice.
Water Harvesting Tanks
For those who are more concerned with rainwater capacity than with looks, water harvesting tanks are an excellent way to store more than two hundred gallons of water at a time. These harvesting tanks tend to be squat, rectangular, and very resistant to the actions of the elements.
Rain Barrels Linked To Irrigation Systems
Barrels such as the Trickle Tank are an irrigation system in and of themselves. The tap leads to a series of irrigation pipes underground that provide drip irrigation to garden plants. These systems are excellent for gardeners who are on holiday during the summer months, or for those with extensive vegetable beds with high water requirements.
Rain Barrels In Disguise
For those who dislike the look of a barrel, rainwater storage and harvesting devices come in many other disguises. Some traditional drum barrels look like decorative urns. The Flora rainwater storage tank looks like a planter and has an area for flowers at the top.
Rain barrels come in many different styles. Whether they are used as rainwater cisterns for the occasional gardener or as rainwater storage for an entire lawn and vegetable garden, there is a barrel for every home, space, and gardener.
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