The Rain in Spain Falls Mainly…into Barrels?

As I start thinking of ways to offset my carbon footprint, I have to keep in mind that economics always comes into it. Bamboo flooring and solar panels are great but we’re not all in a place to make such changes. Small changes go a long way to lowering emissions, decreases the effects of global warming and helping the planet heal itself.

So that’s why I want to talk about rain barrels.

I’m not trying to advocate people drinking rain water to save money. Because we all know that in this day and age rainwater may not be the best way to quench your thirst. Who knows what it could contain. But it does seem a terrible waste not to use free resources to complete lots of household tasks.

The fancy name is “rainwater recovery” which basically means catching the drops as they fall. All you need is a sizeable container to catch the rain. There are commercial and pricey rain barrels out there but if you can find a 55 gallon drum made from plastic or metal you can save a lot of money. Old wooden wine casks are another idea for a rain barrel.

After making sure the barrel is clean, you might want to think about adding a spigot and a mesh screen. The spigot is for all those who would rather turn on the tap than dip a cup into the cold barrel water. The mesh screen helps keep out large debris, bugs and leaves out of the water. The finer the mesh, the better the chance that mosquitoes won’t be tempted.

Then it just a matter of placing the barrel in the best position outside to catch the drops. This is usually beneath the down spout. Rain barrels are not a great idea for arid hot climates. Because the small amount of water you may catch will quickly evaporate in the heat.

Once the rainwater has been collected, there are a range of uses for the water. Watering the garden and the lawn is the obvious use. Washing the car, small garden irrigation system, rinsing off shoes before going in the house, laundry and flushing the toilet are just a few of the uses for rain water.

One article I read stated that using rainwater for a few household tasks such as toilet flushing and laundry can decrease reliance on the municipal water system by 70 percent. That’s a lot. That’s a big thumbs up for the planet.

So go salvage a rain barrel and give it a try. What a great green way to save cash.