What is a rain barrel?

A Rain Barrel is a water tank which is used to collect and store rain water runoff, typically from rooftops via rain gutters. Rain Barrels are devices for collecting and maintaining harvested rain. Rain Barrels are installed to make use of soft rain water for home use, reduce public utility water use, and aid self-sufficiency. In arid climates, rain barrels are often used to store water during the rainy season for use during dryer periods. Rain Barrels can also be used for retention of storm water for release at later time. Rain water can be used for flushing toilets, in washing machines, watering gardens, washing cars, agriculture, and sometimes for drinking, if special care and proper filtration is preformed so that the water is not contaminated. Disadvantages of a Rain Barrel used for drinking water include the initial upfront cost, especially where water charges are otherwise fixed. Occasional maintenance to the barrel is also required, or the user runs a health risk if ...  more

A rain barrel collects and stores rainwater from rooftops to use later for lawn and garden watering. Water collected in a rain barrel would normally pour off your roof directly or flow through roof gutter downspouts and become stormwater runoff. Depending on your yard, this runoff can travel onto paved surfaces and eventually into a storm drain. 54 gallon, green plastic rain barrel with screened cover and outlet hose. Also comes with overflow hose and linking kit to connect a set of two. Why Use Rain Barrels? • Rain barrels conserve water and help lower costs (a rain barrel can save approximately 1,300 gallons of water during peak summer months). • Rain barrels reduce water pollution by reducing stormwater runoff, which can contain pollutants like sediment, oil, grease, bacteria and nutrients. • Rain barrels are inexpensive and easy to build and install. A rain barrel can be used to save water for plants during dry periods. Rain barrels can also be arranged to slowly release the ...  more

A rain barrel is a barrel or other type of container used to collect rainwater for later use. In modern times, the most common use of a rain barrel is for simple garden irrigation around a home. Rain is often collected from the roof of the home and channeled to the barrel. Once there, it can then be used for a number of different purposes. A rain barrel is a good way to promote conservation and environmental efficiency. Rather than allowing rainwater to be channeled into a sewer system, a rain barrel keeps it near the place where it fell. This allows the owner of the rain barrel have a ready supply of water when needed for practical use. In some geographic areas, a rain barrel may not be capable of providing enough water simply because there is not enough rainfall in any given year. These situations are unique but do occur. It only takes a quarter of an inch of rain from the average-sized roof to completely fill a rain barrel. Rain barrels can be made of a number of different ...  more

A rain barrel collects and stores rainwater from your roof so it can be used during periods of limited rainfall to: • water your lawn, garden, or indoor plants, • wash your car, boat, dog, or muddy shoes; and, • fill your birdbaths. Features - A rain barrel has an opening in the top to allow water from your downspout; a screened lid to keep out mosquitoes, leaves, and debris; an overflow hose to direct excess water away from the house’s foundation; and often has a spigot to attach a hose to your rain barrel.  more

Rain barrels are simply large containers that capture rainwater at the end of your downspout that allows homeowners to conserve water and reduce stormwater runoff. A quarter-inch of rain falling on the average home yields more than 200 gallons of water. A rain barrel can be filled within a matter of minutes during a good rain and the water can be stored and used later, especially in dry Kansas summers.

A rain barrel is a system that collects and stores 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 vinyl hose, PVC couplings, and a screen grate to keep debris and insects out. A rain barrel is relatively simple and inexpensive to construct and can sit conveniently under any down spout. 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 to water plants or wash car. Rain barrels provide an ample supply of free "soft water" containing no chlorine, lime or calcium making it ideal for gardens, flower or the potted plants. According to the US Environmental Protection Agency, a rain barrel can potentially save most homeowners about 1,300 gallons of water during the peak summer months. Saving water not only helps protect the environment, ...  more

A rain barrel collects water and stores it for when you need it most during periods of drought to water plants, wash your car, or to top a swimming pool. It provides an ample supply of free ‘soft water’ to homeowners, containing no chlorine, lime or calcium making it ideal for gardens, flowerpots, and car or window washing. Using a rain barrel diverts water from storm drains, decreasing the impact of runoff to streams and the Chesapeake Bay. Therefore, a rain barrel is an easy way for you to “Save the Bay” and have a consistent supply of clean, fresh water for outdoor use, FREE!  more

A rain barrel is a system that collects and stores rain water from your roof that would otherwise be lost to runoff and diverted to storm drains, streams and the Chesapeake Bay. Composed of a 55 gallon drum, a vinyl hose, PVC couplings, a screen grate to keep debris and insects out, and other off-the-shelf items, a rain barrel is relatively simple and inexpensive to construct and can sit conveniently under any residential gutter down spout. 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 -- to water plants, wash your car, or to top a 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 ...  more