Sometimes the simplest ideas can be the most useful – no matter what purpose it could be used for, collecting rainwater for the garden is a bright thought. Not only do plants respond more actively to rainwater (because it is naturally soft and free of chlorine and other chemicals), if there is a drought problem in the local area, it is a perfect solution for dealing with those watering restrictions. And if the house is tied to a municipal system, you could stand to save a considerable amount of money.
Having a rain barrel is a simple and handy alternative to using the garden hose, and under only a half inch of rain falling on a 1,000-square-foot roof will yield 300 gallons of water. For a modern sized house, typical of 30 x 36 ft., with a common 2 ft. roof overhang, a half inch of rain water would provide about 408 gallons of water. That is enough nature-given water to fill six standard-sized rain barrels.
Here are four steps to help explain what you need to set up your own rain harvesting system:
? Gutters and a downspout. These are both rather commonplace domestic appliances, but if you don’t have rain guttering on your home, this will be a one time investment – but the biggest cost you’ll face. However, whether you wish to install high quality gutters or the least-expensive systems available, both will suffice.
? A storage tank. In the more arid seasons, rainwater cisterns are being more and more utilised. Usually made of plastic or concrete, they can hold hundreds or even thousands of gallons of water. To start small and simple, consider a wood or plastic barrel, which will typically hold from 40 to 80 gallons of water. And if more water is required, several barrels can be set up in tandem. Prices vary, but most quality barrel will cost between £20 and £50.
? Debris filter and lid. Before the water goes into the tank or rain barrel, it will help to use some kind of debris screen to filter out leaves, pine needles and other debris. Installing a filter will prevent any build-up or sever clogging that may occur. A removable wire mesh screen is all you really need, either mounted to the top of the rain barrel or attached to the end of the downspout.
? Distribution valve. For a rain barrel, a standard spigot or short length of hose installed in the lower regions (the lower the better) of the barrel, with an on/off valve. It is possible to stick with just a spigot for filling watering cans, but connections to longer hoses and even water pumps can be made to meet most user’s needs.
Across many parts of the globe, rainwater collection and containment systems supply a significant amount (sometimes all) of the water needs for both house and garden. So consider this – if there is 10 inches of rain over the entire course of the spring and summer, a common 1,360 square foot roof would garner 8,160 gallons of rain water – which will gladly keep each year’s flowerbeds fully quenched.
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Posted under Articles, Gardening & Outdoors, How To's & Guides
This post was written by Ryan Whatley on August 15, 2008