Management of Rain Water Through Rain Barrels

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Monday, 23 February 2009 02:21

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. With the use of rain barrels not only would you be conserving the environment but also saving your 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 has to be kept in a convenient location under a gutter where the rain Water can be drained into it easily.

A rain barrel is easily available in many shapes and sizes. People lacking handy skills would prefer a barrel with minimum installation. Rain barrels are available at various rates due to different designs, capacity, material used, style and brand etc. There are various models available which should be seen before a choice is made. Different designs and models are present in gardening catalogues as well. Use of different materials such as wood or plastic etc would alter the cost substantially. Heavy duty material is preferable for longer life as well as efficiency though the price might be higher. Rain barrels are available online through various sellers. The price of a rain barrel ranges from a $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.
Rain barrels is one of the primary techniques to conserve water at the household levels which is necessary in the present environment conscious times. Water usage for non potable purposes accounts for the larger part of the usage for which rain water collected through these barrels can be used. The use of these barrels sufficiently reduces demand of tap water and pressure on the water table. Use of rain water is preferred for gardening over tap water as it is devoid of chemicals found in normal water supply which is harmful for plants.

On a preliminary comparison of home made over purchased rain barrels, it is easily observed that purchased rain barrels are more efficient. Primarily it should be stated that a rain water barrel requires more than a barrel too work. An estimated cost for a constructed rain barrel is around $120 while the same can be bought for approximately $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. Also, after factoring the cost of tools required for constructing a barrel the cost increases and thus it can be settled that purchasing an easily available barrel is beneficial. It is easily settled that purchasing rain barrels over constructing one is favorable.

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