Rain Barrel Constructed at Workshop

Rain Barrels for Sale Order Form

What is a rain barrel?  Why should I have one?  Are they expensive?  Are they hard to install?  These are just some of the questions that come to a person’s mind when they first hear about rain barrels.  A rain barrel is a plastic barrel, typically 55 gallons, that is attached to a downspout of your house and catches your roof water.  Every time is rains, many gallons of useful water flows off your roof, into your gutters, down the downspout, and uselessly into a storm drain, where it finds its way to the nearest stream, picking up any pollutants in its path.  If you install a rain barrel, you will not only reduce the amount of polluted runoff making its way to your streams, you will also help lower your water bill.  Think about it; approximately 40% of your summer water bill goes towards watering your garden or lawn, or washing your car.  If you utilize the water caught by your rain barrel, you won’t have to use the city water supply. 

Some rain barrels can be expensive.  You can look at any Internet site and find a wide range in prices; however, you can also contact your local grocery store and ask if they have any 55 gallon food grade barrels they are willing to sell inexpensively or give away for free.  Be sure to ask for a food grade barrel, because some barrels are used to transport chemicals that can contaminate your water.  Pickle juice is much more pleasant to deal with than antifreeze.  

You will need to clean out your rain barrel.  This can be done with a hose on a grassy part of your lawn.  Don’t wash it out in the driveway or on the sidewalk because the water will not be filtered before it reaches a storm drain and flows into the stream.  Parts for a rain barrel can be purchased at any hardware store.  There are many different ways to assemble a rain barrel.  You can find many variations just by searching “how to make a rain barrel” on your favorite Internet search engine.  Many sites will come up, but keep looking, and I’m sure you’ll find a favorite (and simple) design.

Storm water is often looked upon as a nuisance, something that needs to be gotten rid of as quickly as possible.  But when used for a purpose storm water can be an asset and, in this case, a money saver.