Rain Water Harvesting and storage

Most people are aware of rain barrels and their uses in water conservation. For those who dont, I'll explain briefly.

A rain barrel, or a water butt, is a containment device for capturing and storing rain water.  These are different from cisterns, as they are installed above ground directly below the downspout of your eaves trough. When it rains, the water coming down your eaves trough is directed into the container and saved for use during dry spells.

Simple really. Read on to find out why rain barrels are important.

These days, we've got countless reasons to use rain barrels. The biggest concerns when it comes to rain and water conservation is the amount of runoff each storm creates, and what happens to that water. In its natural state, the earth would suck all of that rain water up and it would seep down through the ground, filtering itself along the way until it reaches its new home. The new home is called an aquifer. An aquifer is basically an underground lake that stores up water. Its often referred to as ground water.

Because we have so many roads and parking lots, rain water has a hard time making its way into the ground. These impermeable surfaces cause rain to run off into storm drains causing streams and creeks to overflow during heavy rains. That water should indeed be flowing down into the aquifers. It doesn't though.

By installing a rain barrel, you are able to capture rain water that would otherwise run from your eaves trough down to the street and eventually into the rivers causing flooding. When you capture this rain water, you are able to use it to deliver nourishing rain water to your garden during the dry times, and at the same time you are putting that water back where it belongs.....in the ground! You might also even try parking your car on the lawn and washing it with rain water you have harvested....washing your car, watering the lawn and recharging ground water all at the same time!