MARTIN SOIL AND WATER CONSERVATION DISTRICT

923 North State Street, Suite 170, Fairmont, MN  56031 

(507) 235-6680
 

 

 2008 RAIN BARREL PROGRAM
Rain Barrel Artwork

WHAT IS A RAIN BARREL?

Rain barrels – a new concept for water conservation? No way! The idea of capturing rainwater in cisterns is generations old. Landowners have used cisterns as a way to collect water for water gardens, plants, washing clothes and even drinking.  A rain barrel is a rainwater harvesting system that is connected to a downspout from a house or building. The average U.S. household uses 146,000 gallons of water per year with up to 50 % of that water going towards landscaping during the summer months. By collecting rainwater, one can save energy, water, and money –as much as $600 a year. Rain barrels also help reduce erosion and stormwater runoff and increase water quality.
 

WHY IS THIS IMPORTANT?

Runoff from impervious surfaces adds up.  Too much water in the streams erodes their channels and destroys habitat.  Excess runoff from yards and gardens can cause erosion problems and can wash things like lawn fertilizer into the stream causing nutrient overloads.

 
RAIN BARRELS AND WISE WATERING.
It’s time to consider some simple, old fashioned ways to conserve water, as well as new ways. Rain barrels are becoming more widespread, as householders are discovering the joys of always having a guilt-free water supply on hand. If roof water isn’t captured, as in rain barrels, it may go to waste as regards your watering needs. There are very decorative barrels on the market, and treatment to preclude mosquito breeding in them is easy. Water mornings and evenings only, as mid- day watering results in much evaporation loss, and use drip irrigation for the same reason. 
 
RAIN BARRELS SAVE MONEY, CONSERVE WATER AND PROTECT  OUR RIVERS. 

About 40% of typical household water use is for lawns and gardens. Instead of paying for this water—on your utilities bill, or on the electric bill for a well pump—you can capture the water from your roof, store it, and draw on it for your gardening needs. Rainwater is oxygenated, nonchlorinated, low in minerals, and warmer—better for plants and better for the environment.   You can make your own rain barrel for about $5.00 in parts. All you need is a recycled barrel made of food-grade plastic that holds 50-85 gallons.
 
CATCHING RAIN: 
The truth is that harvesting rainwater may be more and here is why;
SIMPLE SOLUTION:
According to the UN, 20 percent of the world's population in 30 countries faces water shortages. This number is expected to rise dramatically by 2025. Although water is something that many of us take for granted, 1.2 billion people don't have access to safe drinking water. And consider this: While the average American individual uses between 100 and 176 gallons each day, the average African family uses only 5 gallons. Fresh water from underground aquifers is finite—there is only so much of it, and because of pollution and the rate at which it is being extracted…well, the word "crisis" comes to mind for many. However, rainwater is considered a renewable natural resource. And while domestic potable water collection requires effort, energy, and chemicals for purification and transport, rainwater conserves natural resources, is free of chemicals, and is delivered without challenging the environment.
 
The easiest way to collect rainwater is with rain barrels, and harvested rainwater is great for your lawn, garden and houseplants. Especially in the summer months, many of us have intense heat accentuated with brief yet heavy summer storms—with a dry ground much of that water simply runs off.  By setting a rain barrel beneath your downspout you'll have a free supply of water for your landscaping. Wooden barrels provide rustic charm, but plastic ones are more widely available. You can buy ready-made rain barrels (check with your water company or municipality, first, as many provide them free of charge or at a reduced price). Alternatively, there are many websites that provide instructions on how to build your own. You may not be ready to make the commitment to a more permanent system—but you can always start out by placing plain buckets underneath your downspouts…just to get your feet wet.  Use a lid to minimize evaporation and to keep out debris and mosquitoes. A hose fitting will give you easy access to the collected water, and a diverter lets you switch back to the downspout, or another barrel, should the rain barrel get full. Don't expect to be able to use a hose directly from your rain barrel; gravity probably won't give enough pressure to get water through it. Instead, use the hose fitting to conveniently fill a watering can or slow delivery containers. If you have a garden or tool shed, heck, even a playhouse, why not attach a gutter and barrel there as well? If you have a collecting (or "catchment") area of 1,000 square feet and an average annual rainfall of 20 inches, you have the potential to collect 24,000 gallons of water annually.
 
USING A RAIN CHAIN?   AND, WHAT IS A RAIN CHAIN?
It is a beautiful display of water resource management.  Rain Chains work like downspouts by letting water fall from your roof.  Rain swirls and flows down – it’s a perfect way to divert the water off your roof either into a rain garden or rain barrel.
 

Rain Barrel Hydrology Lesson:

Spring snowmelt and rains are usually plentiful. A rain gutter and extended downspout will help keep the water away from your house and minimize freeze thaw cycles that are dangerous for sidewalks and driveways. Because it is unlikely that your garden will be lacking in water at this time, the main spring-time function of rain barrels is to reduce the amount of stormwater running off of your property.
 

Summer weather is more sporadic with unpredictable rainfall and hot dry spells. Rain barrels provide a way to balance watering needs during this time. Most storms deliver a ¼ inch of rain, but 5 to 6 times per year we get a 1-inch deluge.  Because the typical residential roof can collect a significant amount of rainfall, the amount of water saved depends on the capacity of your rain barrel(s). If you want to store water for irrigation between summer storms, you will need a rain barrel of adequate size. Connecting 2 or 3 barrels together or installing a barrel at more than one downspout is an easy way to multiply your storage capacity. To help plan your rain barrel set-up, consider the following:

1 inch of rain on 1 square foot of roof yields 0.6 gallons.

1 inch of rain onto a 10 ft x 10 ft. area (100 sq. ft) yields 60 gallons.
 

Multiply the square footage of your roof that drains into each individual downspout by 0.6 gallons to get your roof runoff volume. Either use a single barrel and prepare for occasional overflows, or select a rain barrel that can link to another to collect as much rain as possible. Check our recommended web links for ideas on both options. Example: One side of a one-car garage is draining into the barrel. If that roof area is 15 ft x 20 ft (300 sq. ft.), then 1 inch of rain will yield 180 gallons of roof runoff into the barrel. A more common storm event only delivers ¼ inch of rain, producing 45 gallons that will flow into the barrel.  Water your garden naturally with untreated, air-temperature, non-chlorinated water.  Stop stormwater from polluting neighboring waters by keeping it where it falls.  Collect and direct rain water away from the foundation of your house and to your garden. 

 
Why Rain Barrels?

Recycling rain water reduces your personal energy consumption by using less treated water.  Reduce erosion and increase water quality.  Up to 40% of summer water use is irrigation.  Reduce your household water needs by saving rain.  Provide water to areas that can’t be reached by your hose.  Water your dry lawns and gardens during city- imposed watering bans.  Store water away for an un-rainy day.
 
Words of Wisdom
1.  Clean out your rain barrel
  • 3/4 cup Clorox per gallon of water to remove remaining contents of recycled barrel prior to installation.  This cleaning is only done once before any stored water is used from the barrel.
  • Sediment and debris removal as needed monthly, yearly , etc.
2.  Management of heavy rain storms.  Rain barrels fill very quickly in a heavy storm.  Connect a 1-1/4 to 1-1/2 inch hose to the barrel's overflow port and direct the water at least 6 feet away from the building foundation.  Note:  Garden hoses can be too small, causing spillage near the house foundation.  Emptying your rain barrel before any rain event will provide "dead storage," and allow for optimal water savings.
3.  Winterizing rain barrels.  Disconnect downspout connections to the rain barrel prior to the first hard freeze.  Redirect the downspout area away from the foundation of the house for the winter season.
4.  Maintenance.  Periodic checks throughout the season should be done to make sure screens are cleaned out, hoses are well attached, and no small animals have found their way in.
5.  For safety concerns:  regarding rain barrel use for drinking water, on vegetable plants, avoiding mosquitoes, or cautions regarding roofing material, see:
 
So What's next? - Rain barrels are not the only way you can reuse stormwater.
Thank you rain barrel users!  you are now holding back around 8% of the stormwater falling on your roof or around 3% of runoff from your entire residential.  This helps reduce flooding and pollution in the stormwater system.  Now, look around to see where else you can hold back more water.  For more ideas, see:  http://clean-water.uwex.edu/pubs/ and look at the section 'Home and Garden Clean Water Practices.'
Use this website as a starting point to learn more about:
Rain Gardens.  A single rain barrel will not usually be able to contain all the runoff from a heavy storm.  To handle larger volumes of water, rain barrels are best used in conjunction with other water management strategies such as rain gardens (see photos)
The attractive childrens’ art on this colorful rain barrel in the naturescaped yard at the home of Mary Jaron Kelley and Charles Kelley of NE Portland is one of many examples of combining visual appeal with sound conservational practices evident on the Metro Gardens of Natural Delights tour on Sunday, July 15, 2007.      www.aridsolutionsinc.citymax.com/i/TANKS/Rain_Barrels_Arid_Solutions_Inc_citymax.jpg     img2.timeinc.net/toh/i/a/exteriors/rain-barrels-01.jpg     static.flickr.com/20/73495468_f681322ce5.jpg
          RB60HunterGreen         
Planting with Native Vegetation.  Native plants are suited to our unpredictable climate.  They have deep roots that help use up rainwater and they offer habitat to native birds, butterflies, frogs, and turtles.
Yard Care and the Environment.  Use Fertilizers, pesticides, herbicides, irrigation, compost etc., wisely and effectively.
 
Contact Martin SWCD for information on our Rain Barrel Program and workshops To Be Announced.......at (507) 235-6680 or email:  cathy.thiesse@mn.nacenet.net.

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The contents are the property of Martin SWCD.  The District's goal is to provide quality and accurate information.  All information within this site is subject to change and should only serve as a guideline for the District's services and procedures.  For the most Current and accurate information please contact the District at (507) 235-6680.