The Ecological Benefits of Using a Rain Barrel
11/05/08
Catching rainwater as it falls is an age old idea. In fact, the idea of the rain barrel has been around for just as long as irrigation has... pretty much as long as civilization. In the last century or so, however, households have increasingly relied on municipal water systems. Unfortunately, using falling rainwater is no longer widely done.
Everyone with a budget and a desire to take care of the environment wants to save energy and reduce their water usage. But many of those very same people do not even know about the existence of a rain barrel. A rain barrel is a large, specially made container that is designed to catch rainwater. These barrels are placed under your roof's drain downspout. When rain falls on the roof of your home, it is swept into your roofs gutters and out through its downspout. Using this method, you can collect huge quantities of falling water.
How a Rain Barrel Helps the Environment
Reduced toxins in rivers. While rain is necessary for life, it can be bad for the environment. When it rains, the water that falls travels through our cities and streets before ending up on streams and creeks. In this process, rainwater picks up toxins, such as pesticides, pet waste, oil, etc. Routing some rainwater away from natural drainage reduces some of the tainted water that fouls up our rivers.
Less water use. Of course, the most significant effect of using a rain barrel is the reduced water usage. During the summer season a homeowner can spend as much as 40 percent of his or her monthly water bill on watering a lawn. As a result of water shortages, many communities are experiencing water supply problems, forcing water rationing. By catching rainwater, however, you can relive some of the burden on your city's water supply, as well as keep your garden and yard healthy and watered year round.
Reduced energy usage. We all know that reducing the amount of energy we use to power our homes is important for the environment. However, many people do not think of using power when they use the city's water. The water that comes from our home's pipes is water that is cleaned and pumped through long pipes to our homes. In that process, a ton of energy is used, which in turn hurts the environment.
With the use of a rain barrel, you can recycle rainwater to save thousands of gallons of water and create a ready made source of water for your plants, lawn, or day to day jobs. Pretty much the only thing you cannot do with collected rainwater is drink it. Otherwise, rain barrel water is great for washing your car, watering your garden... and doing your part to protect the environment.