Plants need more water in the summer.
Depending on where you live, water use in the summer months can increase dramatically because plants require more water during hot weather. According to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), "lawn and garden watering make up nearly 40 percent of total household water use during the summer." Rain barrels sit under guttering downspouts to collect and store rainwater for landscaping and other non-potable water needs. Rain barrels provide environmental and money-saving benefits, and adding one under a downspout makes homes greener places. Does this Spark an idea?
Reduction in Bills
Rain barrels sit under guttering downspouts to collect rainwater.
Households typically realize an increase in water bills during the summer months. Collecting rainwater in a rain barrel can help conserve water. Using collected rainwater for indoor and outdoor plant watering needs saves water during hot, summer months. Rainwater also saves money on tasks such as rinsing cars and windows. According to the EPA, one rain barrel saves most people about 1,300 gallons of water throughout the summer months. Collecting rainwater costs nothing once a rain barrel is purchased, and using less tap water lowers utility bills.
Healthier Plants
Healthy soil is full of microorganisms.
Non-chlorinated rainwater helps maintain a healthy community of microorganisms in the soil, which, in turn, keeps plants and lawns healthy. Because tap water contains chlorine to kill bacteria in our drinking supply, watering with it reduces populations of beneficial microorganisms living in the soil's top layer. Microorganisms improve the soil's ability to support plant life---known as soil "tilth"---and aid in nutrient transfer from the soil to the plants. Plants with long, thin leaves such as Dracaena (Dracaena spp.) and spider plant (Chlorophytum comosum) respond poorly to the fluoride in tap water, making rainwater a better option for these plant varieties.
Storm Water Runoff
One inch of rainfall can produce 600 gallons runoff per roof.
According to the City of Minneapolis, one inch of rainfall on a 1,000 square-foot roof produces approximately 600 gallons of storm water runoff. Roof runoff drains to municipal storm water systems and collects pollutants from non-permeable surfaces as it flows. Storm water systems route rainwater away from where it falls to natural waterways such as lakes, streams and ponds. Routing rainwater away from where it falls prevents replenishment of the groundwater table in one area and can oversaturate another area. Rain barrels catch the rainwater before it accumulates pollutants and keeps runoff out of storm water systems and natural waterways. Reducing the demand on storm water systems lowers the risk of flooding because of system overcapacity and decreases water pollution from runoff.
Emergency Preparedness
A broken water pipe can render water service unavailable.
Rain barrels provide a backup source of water in the event of a drought, natural disaster or other emergency. Droughts cause economic and environmental damage and having a supply of rainwater on hand can help mitigate some of the negative impacts. Water service may become unavailable for reasons such as a broken municipal water main or a malfunctioning well pump. Collected rainwater provides a backup non-potable water supply for necessities such as toilet flushing.
Tags: Rain barrels, summer months, water systems, during summer, storm water