Rain Barrels Around The Home

Also known as water butts in the UK and rainwater tanks in many parts of the United States, rain barrels are water containers wherein rain water from rooftops is collected and stored. This water usually passes through rain gutters that are installed on roofs. Related storage vessels called rainwater tanks on the other hand are used primarily for the collection of harvested rain. Rain barrels are sometimes installed to collect water running off from concrete patios and even driveways.
Rain barrels actually have many uses, not the least of which is the storage of rain water for later use. They can also be used to lessen mains water consumption, which can have significant beneficial effects on the economy as well as the environment. Of course being able to store rain water also results in a certain measure of self sufficiency, since doing so will allow you to be less dependent on mains water to some degree, depending on how much water you consume on a regular basis.
The water that is stored in the rain barrels can be used in many ways, among them for watering the garden and other agricultural applications, for use in the home (particularly for the bathroom), in washing machines, for cleaning cars, and depending on how clean it is, as drinking water. This can be a great benefit in areas where water is less available, cost prohibitive or unsafe to drink. This is one of the main reasons why rain barrels can often be seen in areas with arid climates, wherein water is collected during the rainy season and used later when water is scarce. When used for drinking however, water in rain barrels has to be filtered and otherwise protected from any type of contaminants.
Some rain barrels can be a bit expensive, but their many uses means that they will pay for themselves in the long run. As an alternative, many homeowners use smaller rain barrels that collect smaller quantities of water. Rain barrels can also be constructed out of recycled food storage containers and transport barrels, and whiskey and wine barrels have also been used. These rain barrels are usually very cheap. Keep in mind that with these types of rain barrels, it is important to make sure that they are sufficiently sealed in order to prevent the entry of mosquitoes. Even if it seems that mosquitoes are not able to enter, rain barrels can still be a breeding ground for mosquito larvae if there is no proper filtering in place.