Wednesday, June 03rd, 2009 | Author:
admin
With the rising population, the one resource the world desperately needs is plenty of water. There is a high demand for residential water which is used for cooking, cleaning and irrigation purposes. Besides household purposes, gallons of water are required in industries. Water conservation is the need of the hour. Fortunately for humankind, rain water is one of the consistently available natural resource. Every year, there is abundant supply of rain water, which if harvested can meet many of our needs.
Water conservation can be done easily by harvesting rain water as it is an effective way of cutting down the usage of water for household purposes and overcoming the problem of water shortage. One of the techniques of rain water harvesting is by usage of rain barrels. A rain barrel is a water tank which is used to collect and store rain water, typically from rooftops through rain gutters. Rain barrels are installed to make good use of naturally available rain water for future use. This method is not only economical but also helps preserve natural resources. In places where there is acute shortage of water, rain water harvesting aids self-sufficiency. Rain water harvesting can be done on a small scale as well as a large scale. Small scale rain harvesting is normally done in households wherein the rain barrels are placed strategically around the house and can be used for watering gardens, agriculture, flushing toilets, in washing machines, washing cars, and also
for drinking, especially when other water supplies are expensive, unavailable, or of poor quality.
Rain barrels come in different forms such as portable rain barrel, the rain catcher rain barrel, flat back rain barrel, wood grain rain barrel, flora rain barrel, etc. Portable rain barrels serve multiple purposes and come in varying sizes. Besides fulfilling the basic function of collecting rain water, these rain barrels can be easily pushed across and moved from one spot to another. Another most used rain barrel is the rain catcher. These two models are truly convenient and useful to be used in any household. This is very important that these barrels are engineered to screen out breeding of mosquitoes due to improper filtering systems. Therefore, along with these models, there are certain rain barrel accessories such as diverter kits, mosquito donuts and even pH meters that are available in the markets which will ensure the cleanliness pf the harvested rain water.
Wednesday, April 15th, 2009 | Author:
admin
Rain barrel is a very easy way to extend the benefits of a rainfall. A lot of water that is consumed goes for watering gardens and lawns. This potable water can be saved if one could use an alternate source for watering the gardens. A rain barrel is usually made from 50-gallon food drums. And an average rainfall of one fourth of an inch is sufficient to fill the 50- gallon drum using the roof and the gutter system.
If one is living in the country, main rain barrels can be installed at various places to collect rainwater and in a city, water collected from the roof can be used to water the plants and the lawn as well as reduce water bills. Apart from the monetary benefits, you will also be helping maintain the municipal water grid and hence help the environment. When you harvest the rain water you are not just saving water you are also reducing the amount of chemicals that run into the water bodies. When rainwater runs on the ground, it collects harmful chemicals like agricultural pesticides, herbicides, petro- chemicals like oil and gasoline, pollution, etc. This water then runs in the gutters and joins the rivers and lakes hence polluting them. When we harvest the rain water, we reduce the quantity of running water to some extent hence protecting the environment and erosion.
The rain water that gets into the water treatment plant is treated with chlorine and other chemicals before it is sent back to us. Therefore by using the rain barrel, we consume pure water, free of chemicals and we also reduce the work done on the water hence conserving energy. Healthy vegetables can be grown with this water. So your savings will not just be because of the reduced water bill.
Plastic, food grade rain barrels are the ones you should choose. The barrels that were used to hold chemicals or wax should be avoided as the chemicals found in the residue may harm the plants and the environment.
Some simple tips can be followed to make the best of the rain barrel.
- A hose can be connected to the bottom of the barrel to take out water.
- It should be kept on a flat surface to avoid it tipping over when full.
- It should be secured using a stick or a rope so that it doesn’t blow away when empty.
An estimate was done and it was reported that 1 inch of rain on a 1000 sq. ft. roof would yield 623 gallons of water. Imagine the amount of water you could collect over a rainy season.
Monday, February 16th, 2009 | Author:
admin
Here in the typically sunny California, our rainy season generally runs from November to March, with the heaviest being early in the year. This tends to send those with already questionable driving skills into a panic and it shows on our freeways. Those of us not smart enough to wear galoshes, have a hard time getting used to the squish squish our shoes make from walking through puddles left by our ill prepared drainage systems.It happens every year, but there IS a way to take advantage of this change in weather, or non-change in weather, depending on where you reside. You see, as much as the rain frizzes our hair and destroys our shoes, it can be very useful to those with a green thumb or really anyone who wants to do their part in preserving this planet of ours.
This would be catching the rain draaaaainage.
Now, reusing rain water may not be as profitable as say, Texas tea… it still can put an impressive dent in your water bill, because you can use it to water your plants, lawn, whatever.
When searching for rain barrels, you have a few to choose from. There is the kind you hook up directly to your gutters. The GWS Diverter kit can get you started on that, as well as the Wood Grain Rain Barrel. There are stand alone kits for those who may not want it connected to the roof gutter or perhaps you want BOTH, there is the Rain Catcher that comes with a screen to keep the undesirables out, a hose for easy watering and a spigot. A slightly more fashionable, yet functional, option would be the Gardenware Oasis Rain Barrel, which comes in two colors to better match your decor, has a lovely form that brings to mind ancient garden design, as well as the necessary screen and spigot. It can also take the rain from your gutter or straight from the air as it falls.
Don’t forget, with standing water, comes mosquitos, so throw in a Mosquito Donut (believe me, NOT as tasty as it sounds) to keep the mosquitos to a minimum.
Thursday, January 15th, 2009 | Author:
admin
This rain barrel at Composters not only collects and stores rain water, so that you can use it to water your lawn, flowers, veggies, etc… it also makes a lovely planter for your garden, so that you can show off your annuals and perennials in eco-style.
Flora Rain Barrel and Planter, on sale currently, for $290.08. Comes in Sherwood Green, Sherwood Green Speckled, Dark Brown and Dark Brown speckled.
