Rain Barrel Overview
What is a Rain Barrel?
A rain barrel collects and stores rainwater from rooftops to use later for lawn and garden watering. The water collected in a rain barrel would normally pour off your roof directly or flow through roof gutter downspouts and become storm water runoff.
Benefits of Rain Barrels
Rain barrels are water conservation devices that can be used to reduce runoff. By storing and diverting runoff from impervious areas such as roofs, these devices reduce the undesirable impacts of runoff that would otherwise flow into streams and drains contributing to flood and erosion problems. Also, rain barrels can provide a source of free water for flower and vegetable gardens and landscapes. Additionally, because residential irrigation can account for up to 40% of domestic water consumption, water conservation measures such as rain barrels can be used to reduce the demand on the municipal water system, especially during the hot summer months.
Quick Facts
– Lawn and garden watering make up nearly 40% of total household water use during the summer.
– It provides an ample supply of free ‘soft water’ to homeowners, containing no chlorine, lime or calcium making it ideal for gardens, flower pots, and car and window washing.
– A rain barrel will save most homeowners about 1,300 gallons of water during the peak summer months.
– Diverting water from storm drains also decreases the impact of runoff to streams and the Ohio River.
– A 1/2” of rain falling onto a roof that is 2000 square feet (the average size of home’s roof) drops approximately 2400 gallons of rain.
Standard Rain Barrel
Size: 24”W X 32”H
Standard Rain Barrel
Capacity: 54-gallons
Material: UV-stable poly-ethylene.
Description: This barrel is a good buy for someone who is looking for a simple, well-made barrel. This barrel has all the standard features and has the advantage of being made out of recycled materials. It is lightweight which means that it can be removed for cleaning. It comes with a removable aluminum mesh debris screen that is non-corrosive and durable. The back of the barrel is flat so it can be placed close to the wall of your home. There is an overflow port on the back of the barrel and there are also portals on either side of the barrel that can be used to hook several barrels together in series for greater storage capacity.
Whiskey Barrel
Size: 34”H x 24”W
Whiskey Barrel
Capacity: 53-gallons
Material: Oak, steel hoops, brass fittings
Description: The barrels are converted from barrels that were once filled with bourbon at Kentucky distilleries to fully functional rain barrels. The barrels are made out of white oak and are inspected by a Kentucky cooperage before they are sold as rain barrels. These barrels are extremely heavy, weighing about 110 pounds each. The wooden barrel is held together with steel hoops, which create a long-lasting, durable rain barrel. All the fittings on the barrel are solid brass and are threaded so that you can attach a garden hose to them.
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