It's over your head
Without water, there would be no life on Earth. Since ancient times, mankind has understood the importance of collecting and storing this essential element. Much of the precious liquid that nature supplies us goes to waste. Rain barrels provide a great way to collect and store the rainwater run-off from rooftops. A rain barrel provides many advantages and is a good method of resource conservation. There are many types of decorative rain barrels which allow us to harvest the abundant rain supply which normally escapes into the ground or storm drains. Perhaps the best one is standing right over your head. Your roof and gutter make the perfect catchment system and can be used to funnel this valuable resource back into your home and your pocketbook. Rain barrel manufacturers offer a vast array of shapes, styles, and colors to suit most water storage need. Below are listed the main types, as well as some advantages and disadvantages to keep in mind.
Decorative Plastic Rain Barrels - Plastic and polyethylene rain barrels are the most popular because of their light weight, affordability, and wide assortment of shapes and colors. Care must be taken, however, to ensure that the container has adequate UV protection and suitable thickness. The sun and elements have a deteriorating effect on these materials, especially in areas that are subject to extreme seasonal weather. Another disadvantage for vegetable gardeners is the possible presence of B.P.A (bisphenol-A) which is used in plastic manufacturing and is considered an environmental contaminant. B.P.A. also interferes with the nitrogen fixation of leguminous roots. |  |
Wooden Rain Barrels - Wooden rain barrels make great catchments and add a real rustic feel to homes and gardens. If you use your water for vegetable gardening, wooden barrels eliminate the possibility of B.P.A contamination. Wooden catchment systems are heavier and generally more expensive than plastic, especially hardwoods such as oak, beechwood, and hickory, as well as long-lasting woods like cedar.
Galvanized Metal Rain Barrels - These systems usually incorporate flexible membrane liners and are great for people who need a larger rainwater storage system. Metal rain barrels are intended as more permanent fixtures and tend to be too unsightly for normal residential settings.
Ceramic Clay or Stone Rain Barrels - A great way to catch and store small amounts of rain water, they can be highly decorative and make attractive additions to flower and small vegetable gardens. Setting in place or rearrangement can sometimes be difficult due to the unwieldy nature of natural or ceramic stone.
Conservation comes in all sizes
Residential rain barrels range from small 15-gallon models to larger commercial sizes designed to hold up to 1,000 gallons. Some modular cistern designs have greater storage capacities for larger agricultural and industrial operations. Ready-to-use rain barrels can be purchased at many lawn-and-garden centers, as well as home improvement locations. For the do-it-yourselfer, kits used to retrofit recycled rain barrels are also available.
