Make your own Rain Barrel!

 

 

Installing a rain collection system is a simple way to not only save money, but also to ease the burden on our limited fresh water resources. Rain barrels are available to purchase at many home renovation stores and garden supply stores, but can run upwards of $100 per barrel. Occasionally, local governments will offer rain barrels for sale at reduced costs, but these sales are often only once per year. The most cost effective way to install a rain barrel is to build your own, and it is surprisingly simple to do. Building and installation requires few tools and materials, some of which may already be lying around your garage.

 

 

 

 

But why bother going through the effort? Below are a few statistics that will help you to understand the benefits of installing your own rain barrel.

 

• During the growing season, outdoor water usage (lawn & garden, car washing, etc) accounts for over 40% of total water usage per household.¹ In the City of Hamilton, we pay for our water usage based on volume consumed, but we also pay for our wastewater  based on our water usage. This means that if 40% of your total water usage is being poured into your lawn or garden, you are still paying for waste water services you are not even using.² Think of the money you would save by using your rain barrel!
• Impervious surfaces such as asphalt and concrete, and low infiltration surfaces like sod, prevent water from being absorbed into the ground. Instead, the water follows along these surfaces, collecting pesticides, oil, litter and other harmful contaminants and drains into nearby water sources where it can harm wildlife and ecosystems.³  Collecting rain water helps to offset this effect.
• Less than 1% of all of the water on Earth is freshwater available for drinking.⁴  We can help to conserve this limited resource by re-purposing rain water.

 

There are a lot of ways that you can use your stored rainwater! Don’t have a flower or vegetable garden to water? You can also use rain water to:

 

• Water your lawn
• Wash exterior windows and siding
• Wash your car
• Bathe your dog
• Rinsing off outdoor furniture and toys
• Watering indoor plants
• Flushing your toilet if your water needs to be turned off for maintenance

 

rainbarrel2.pdf

 

 

Sources:

 

1. http://www.epa.gov/reg3esd1/garden/rainbarrel.html

2. https://www.horizonutilities.com/myHome/watersewer-billing/Pages/default.aspx

3. http://www.marc.org/Environment/Water

4. http://rollouttherainbarrel.com/why-buy-a-rain-barrel/

 

*Courtesy of RE/MAX Escarpment Realty Inc.

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