Harvesting rainwater from the roof of your home will not only save you money but it will also reduce flow to nearby storm sewage systems. Utilizing rainwater may take a little effort on your part, but it could save thousands of gallons in purchased water. Some municipalities may offer rain barrels free of charge in order to conserve water. Check with your local water utility. Does this Spark an idea?
Cleaning
Dip a bucket of chemical free water from the rain barrel to mop floors inside the home. Clean outdoor lawn furniture in the same manner. Add some organic mild cleaner into the solution. That way when you are cleaning, you will not have to worry about injuring plants that are near the outdoor patio area. Attach a hose spigot into the bottom of the rain barrel. Conduct that water through a hose and use it for rinsing the outdoor deck after it has been scrubbed. Elevate the collection barrels to add some water pressure for moving it into the driveway. Use the rainwater to clean a concrete or asphalt surface--and the car. The finish on the vehicle will luster from the chemical free water. Many car washes advertise mineral-free water, using rainwater is truly free, not only in mineral content but also cost.
Irrigation
Connect a series of rain collection barrels under a gutter system. Use hoses to conduct the water into the garden beds around the home. Install a timer device to release the water at certain times of the day. Some low-pressure drip systems may need no more attachments than the low height of the barrel. Small pressure pumps can be added into the delivery system. Combine the pump with a small screen filter and the rainwater can be piped into traditional home irrigation systems. Special check valves may have to be installed to prevent backflow into the city's water system. Check with the local water utility.
Collection
Install barrels in such a way that they can be removed from under the downspout when full. Use a flexible pipe on the lower end of a traditional metal downspout to remove it from the barrel. Cover the barrels so small children cannot enter the barrel. Seine all rainwater through a ¼ inch square piece of hardware cloth. This will keep leaves and other debris from entering the container. Use the rainwater as soon as possible or keep it covered. Mosquitoes will find the still water quickly during the summer months and use it as a possible breeding area. Most rain barrels will have approximately 50 gallons in capacity. On average a 1-inch rainfall collected from a 1,000-square-foot roof will contain 600 gallons of water. A typical 1,750-square-foot home will have approximately 2,000 square feet of roof covering. A 12-inch yearly rainfall can be collected from this size roof for a savings of over 14,000 gallons of water.
Tags: will have, Check with, chemical free, chemical free water, collected from, collection barrels