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How To Harvest Rainwater

Updated on February 15, 2012

Collecting rain water is not a new concept but it is an inexpensive and environmental one that you may want to consider. If you live in a drought stricken area or are searching to save some money on those ever increasing water bills. Or, you have seen how precious water can be and would like to try and preserve it. Perhaps when the snow thaws or the temperatures begin to rise and spring rain is in the air you will need to consider collecting rainwater.

Why collect rain water?

During the hot summer, months when you see your lawn sprinklers turn on most of that water is coming in from your main water connection to the house. But, as much as 45% of the water you will use all summer will go to just watering your lawn, shrubs, and flowers. Why not save some money and reduce your water consumption by collecting the storm water?

Water pours from the sky and then just washes away down the nearest storm sewer to be collected and pooled somewhere else. If, you set aside a single rain barrel on the edge of your house, you can save as much as 1300 gallons of water. Even more money during the water consumptions peak summer months. That’s a whole lot of water that you can save and not have to pay for. Plus another advantage to saving this rain water is that much less will end up in the local sewer treatment plant. Since, the rain water has already been through a natural filter, it’s even gentle enough to wash your car will no ill effects.

How do you start Collecting rain Water?

You don’t need any specific skills to make a barrel, and you can achieve it yourself in an afternoon. Ideally if, you are ever in Tennessee, you can get a Jack Daniels whiskey barrel they come pretty cheap to use. If, not you can use a large food quality barrel or even an extremely large rubber maid garbage can with a lid. At the top of the barrel, you will need to make a hole about the size of your outside gutter connector, and one hole near the bottom where you want to put a spigot for the tap. Below, I have a video for you to take a look at on creating a rain barrel to a great job of explaining.

If, you would just like some regular rain barrel plans, I would first check out your local water district website they will usually provide instructions free of charge. Of course if you are not into making your own barrel you can also purchase one at many different locations. You can go to Google and look up water treatment systems or rain catchers there are many different types of styles and options.

So no matter what you decide to do about your rain barrel it will in the end do three things. Save you a ton on money, save the environment, and in emergencies you will have a second source of water where most people would not.


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