| Rain Water Harvesting -
Ever thought about doing something with all that runoff from your roof after a storm? In a time when water shortages and drought is ramped, now’s a better time than ever to think about utilizing the resources on your property as best as possible. It only takes about an inch of rain to fill up one fifty gallon rain barrel and with even the driest states averaging over seven inches of rain annually; everyone has a resource that can be tapped.
So how do you set up a rain barrel? It’s quite simple actually; first though you need a large barrel, which can be found at most home improvement stores and can cost somewhere in the range of $100-$150. Once you find a barrel you cut a hole in the top just large enough to fit your roofs downspout but not so large that leaves and other particulate matter will fall into it. After the hole is cut you just extend your downspout a few inches into the barrel and voila your house is equipped to utilize the runoff. The captured water can be used for a variety of purposes like watering the flowers and grass but also can reduce the amount of surface runoff by 60-75 percent, great in places that are prone to flooding and saturation. You can even hook up various attachments including a spigot, which will make watering the garden all the more convenient. To make them more ascetically pleasing you can paint them the color of your house or incorporate them into the garden, rain barrels offer endless opportunities. You don’t have to stop at one either, for as many downspouts you have you can have an equal number of barrels.
The barrels are low maintenance as well; just a few tasks can be undertaken to ensure the maximum lifespan of your barrel. First, you have to make sure your gutters are clean, which will ensure maximum uptake of rainwater. Second, if possible, you should empty the barrel before large storms so that you get the maximum collection and reduce as much surface runoff as possible. Finally, you should empty the barrel as the cold months begin to approach, to prevent freezing and extend the barrels life. As you can see rain barrels offer an excellent way to utilize water that falls on your property whether you have one or not. They’re relatively inexpensive, easy to set up and maintain, and quite possibly will last a lifetime. $100 seems like a small price to pay to tap an endless resource.
|
