Rain water harvesting through rain barrels
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by: georgewonderman
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Word Count: 651
Rain barrels are tanks used to collect and store rain water which can be used to serve a number of purposes. Rain water collected by these barrels have a number of uses ranging from gardening, washing cars, in washing machines, etc. In times when drinking water is unavailable or expensive, water collected through rain barrels can be used for drinking purposes after proper filtration and cleansing. Waste of precious water to runoffs can be controlled by the use of rain barrels the utility of which is evident. The use of rain barrels is for environment conservation and also to save money.
The design of a rain barrel is simple yet efficient. It comprises of 20 to 100 Gallon Tank, a vinyl hose, PVC couplings and a screen to keep insects and other debris out. It can be kept under a Gutter anywhere around the house.
A rain barrel is easily available in many shapes and sizes. People lacking handy skills would prefer a barrel with minimum installation. Due to various designs, brands, material used and capacity the price of a rain barrel is varied. It is advisable to check out various models which are available in the market or through gardening catalogues before ordering it. The cost of a rain barrel will depend on the material used primarily as it can be made of wood as well as plastic. The use of heavy duty material might be more expensive but would be beneficial and more effective in the long run. The existence of online sellers increases easy availability of rain barrels. The average price of rain barrels ranges from $100 to $350.
The given efficiency of rain barrels ranges from 70 to 90%. In an area of 1000 sq feet, for every inch of rain, 600 gallons of water can be collected which can be used for a number of functions while saving money on water bills. Rain barrels have to be positioned carefully for increased efficiency. Easy transferability of the water is important and should be considered while placing it. The placement of an overflow pipe is important and should be diverted away from the building during heavy rain.
In todays world where conservation of the environment and natural resources is the talk of the town, harvesting rain water through rain barrels is a grass root level plan for water conservation. The water if not conserved would be wasted in run offs (which also causes river, stream etc. pollution), is used for various purposes which accounts for a large part of the water usage by a household. The use of these rain barrels would reduce pressure on the water table and tap water supply. Rain water is considered more beneficial for gardening purposes as well as it does not contain chemicals found in regular water supply.
It is observable that a rain barrel requires more than just a barrel for functioning. Analyzing and estimating cost for constructing a rain barrel, it would be around $120 while purchasing the same off the market would set you back by around $200. Comparing the efficiency of a professionally made barrel with a homemade one would be imprudent as the increased efficiency of a purchased barrel would be obvious. There could be problems in making of a barrel by hand which could decrease efficiency. The price of tools used for construction of the barrel would be separate and thus adding those to the cost would put it at par with the one purchased in terms of cost. The advantages of purchasing ready made rain barrels over building one which could be a cumbersome task has been emphasized and should be preferred according to this author. Related information Rain barrel + parts | Decorative rain barrel | Rain barrel pump |
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