Protecting the Environment with a Rain Barrel

Collecting falling water in a barrel or container is not a revolutionary new idea. The concept of a rain barrel and other types of rain catchers has been in use as long as agriculture... pretty much as long as civilization. However, during the last decades, home owners have become more and more reliant on their citys water services. And collecting rainwater has taken a back seat.
Everyone with a budget and a desire to take care of the environment wants to save energy and reduce their water usage. But most households do not realize the benefits they could receive from using a rain barrel. A rain barrel is a large, specially made container that is designed to catch rainwater. These barrels are placed under your roofs drain downspout. When it rains, the rain that falls on your roof will go into the gutters, through its drain, and out its downspout. Using this method, you can collect huge quantities of falling water.
Ecological Benefits of a Rain Barres
Reduced toxins in rivers. While rain is necessary for life, it can be bad for the environment. When it rains, the water that falls travels through our cities and streets before ending up on streams and creeks. In this process, rainwater picks up toxins, such as pesticides, pet waste, oil, etc. Routing some rainwater away from natural drainage reduces some of the tainted water that fouls up our rivers.
Less water use. Of course, the most significant effect of using a rain barrel is the reduced water usage. During the summer season a homeowner can spend as much as 40 percent of his or her monthly water bill on watering a lawn. As a result of water shortages, many communities are experiencing water supply problems, forcing water rationing. If you collect rainwater, however, you can both keep your grass and garden green, and free up more water for your community.
Energy efficiency. We all know that reducing the amount of energy we use to power our homes is important for the environment. However, many people do not think of using power when they use the citys water. The water that comes from our homes pipes is water that is cleaned and pumped through long pipes to our homes. In that process, a ton of energy is used, which in turn hurts the environment.
You can reduce your water usage by thousands of gallons and have plenty of water handy for plants and odd jobs simply by using a rain barrel. Pretty much the only thing you cannot do with collected rainwater is drink it. Otherwise, rain barrel water is great for washing your car, watering your garden... and doing your part to protect the environment.