Your Budget and the Environment Will Love Your Rain Barrels
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by: georgewonderman
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We lived in a row house in the city for years and years and did not have a big enough yard to even worry about watering when the weather was hot and dry. We recently moved to a house with a bigger yard that requires more maintenance and attention. Most of our neighbors have the same philosophy that we do about the grass. No one really waters, since the grass will easily grow back after a dry spell. The plants and bushes are another story. The rainfall in our area has been above normal this year. There were also weeks of high temperatures that parched even the most resilient plant. Every time I would turn on the hose outside, I felt guilty that I had not collected some rain from the downpours. I realized that rain barrels were the answer.
I read a shocking statistic once that an estimated 40 percent of household water in the summer months is used to water gardens and lawns. Capturing rain water with a system of rain barrels can decrease the demand on our municipal water supplies significantly. The state of Maryland estimates that a homeowner could save 1,300 gallons of water during peak summer months by utilizing rain barrels. Clean water is one of our precious resources. It should be used wisely. City sewer infrastructures are more frequently overflowing during downpours, due to population increases. Rain barrels can decrease the demand on those systems. In a world where almost nothing is free anymore, rain water is one of the exceptions. Harnessing rain water via rain barrels is the cheapest way to water your plants and lawn. If your town has certain times when you are allowed to water, your own supply in rain barrels gives you the option to water anytime you please. Municipal water contains chlorine, which is not so good for our soil or environment. Rain water is chlorine free.
Utilizing your existing downspouts and gutters, rain barrels offer a place to store the harnessed water for when you need it. Rain barrels come in all shapes and sizes with a wide price range. If your are looking for beauty in your barrel, more and more companies now offer gorgeous barrels that look like planters. I recommend child proofing your rain barrels, which means making sure all barrels have a secure top or are too narrow for a child to get inside. Many barrel intakes can be fitted with a filter to help keep mosquitoes at bay. Rain barrels with overflow hoses and a spout are also very handy.
If you are a homeowner, get some rain barrels. Even if you do not own your home, get your landlord on board and offer to install a barrel yourself. Rain barrels are the easiest way to help your budget and the environment. I am the ultimate recycler and am ashamed it took me so long to get on board. Related articles Rain barrel planter | Rain barrel | How you make a rain barrel | Cheap rain barrel |
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