What Can a Rain Barrel do for You and the Environment?
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by: georgewonderman
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Word Count: 509
Collecting falling water in a barrel or container is not a revolutionary new idea. In fact, the idea of the rain barrel has been around for just as long as irrigation has... which is thousands of years. In the last century or so, however, households have increasingly relied on municipal water systems. And collecting rainwater has taken a back seat.
Everyone with a budget and a desire to take care of the environment wants to save energy and reduce their water usage. But many of those very same people do not even know about the existence of a rain barrel. A rain barrel is a large, specially made container that is designed to catch rainwater. They do this collection at the drain downspout of your homes drainage system. When rain falls on the roof of your home, it is swept into your roofs gutters and out through its downspout. This allows you to collect large amounts of rain water as it falls.
Ecological Benefits of a Rain Barres
Reduced toxins in rivers. While rain is necessary for life, it can be bad for the environment. When it rains, the water that falls travels through our cities and streets before ending up on streams and creeks. As it flows, it collects chemicals, toxins, and other wastes. If you collect some of that rainwater instead of allowing it to flow away, you can reduce the pollution of our rivers.
Less water use. The greatest benefit you will see from utilizing a rain barrel is, of course, water usage. In the summer time, up to 40% of a households water usage goes to watering their garden and lawn. Because of this, there are yearly water shortages in many cities nationwide, with rationing programs and overuse fines. By catching rainwater, however, you can relive some of the burden on your citys water supply, as well as keep your garden and yard healthy and watered year round.
Energy efficiency. We hear more and more about how important it is to reduce our energy usage to protect the environment. However, many people do not think of using power when they use the citys water. The water that comes from our homes pipes is water that is cleaned and pumped through long pipes to our homes. There are countless processes in water processing that use up energy and, unfortunately, harm the environment.
With the use of a rain barrel, you can recycle rainwater to save thousands of gallons of water and create a ready made source of water for your plants, lawn, or day to day jobs. Pretty much the only thing you cannot do with collected rainwater is drink it. Otherwise, rain barrel water is great for washing your car, watering your garden... and doing your part to protect the environment. Similar References Rain barrel ki -- Rain barrel pump -- Rain barrel ki --
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For more on make a rain barrel, try www.palmettorainbarrels.com.
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