Rain Barrels

What is a Rain Barrel?
A rain barrel is a storage unit for rainwater from your roof that would otherwise be lost to runoff and diverted to storm drains and streams. Usually a rain barrel is composed of a 55 gallon drum, a hose, couplings, a screen grate to keep debris and insects out, and other off the-shelf items. A simple rain barrel is relatively easy and inexpensive to construct and can sit conveniently under any residential gutter down spout. For those that are not good with their hands, do not have time, or want a higher quality barrel than they can make there are rain barrels that Esbenshades sells in store or online that might be more of what you are looking for.

What are the advantages of a rain barrel?
Lawn and garden watering make up nearly 40% of total household water use during the summer. A rain barrel collects water and stores it for when you need it most, during periods of drought it enables you to water plants, wash your car, or to top off swimming pool. It provides an ample supply of free “soft water” to homeowners, containing no chlorine, lime or calcium making it ideal for gardens, flower pots, and car and window washing.

A rain barrel will save most homeowners about 1,300 gallons of water during the peak summer months. Saving water not only helps protect the environment, it saves you money and energy (decreased demand for
treated tap water). Diverting water from storm drains also decreases the impact of runoff to streams. Therefore, a rain barrel is an easy way for you to have a consistent supply of clean, fresh water for outdoor use.

Where to buy rain barrels?

Plain to fancy rain barrels. Shop Here

Source: This rain barrel information was
obtained and edited from http://www.epa.gov/Region3/p2/what-is-rainbarrel.pdf