Using Rain Barrels

I was at one of my clients' homes a few days ago. She loves spring & summer in Flagstaff, because she loves working in her gardens. She is looking to save on her water bill. Who isn't?? She is looking into purchasing Rain Barrels to collect the rain water off her roof.

Rain Barrels are GREAT for this. They enable you to collect rain water and then use it later to water your gardens & lawn. Many models allow you to attach hoses, so you don't have to carry the water.

When purchasing Rain Barrels, you want to keep a few things in mind. First and foremost, you want barrels that have mosquito screens. Without a screen you will be providing a perfect breeding ground for them. Second, you want to purchase barrels that are at least 50 gallons or larger. The reason for this is that the amount of water produced during a rain storm can be substantial. For instance, a rain fall of 0.01 - 0.25 inches (a typical rain storm) will give you 312 - 779 gallons of water for a roof area of 5000 sq.ft.

So back to the conversation with my client, I told her that she needs to invest Rain Barrels that will net her at least 200 gallons in water capacity. This can be done by purchasing larger barrels (100 gallons) or piggy-backing smaller barrels.

So if you looking into buying Rain Barrels, be willing to spend the time to shop around and do some price comparisons. Also, don't be afraid to shop on the internet.

Remember, Rain Barrels will pay for themselves within one watering season!