Rain Barrels Around The Home

Also known as water butts in the UK and rainwater tanks in many parts of the United States, rain barrels are water containers wherein rain water from rooftops is collected and stored. This rain water often comes from rain gutters that are found on many rooftops. Related storage vessels called rainwater tanks on the other hand are used primarily for the collection of harvested rain. Rain barrels are sometimes installed to collect water running off from concrete patios and even driveways.
Rain barrels are used in many ways, the most common of which is storing rain water that can be used later on when needed. With this usage, they can greatly decrease the consumption of water from the mains supply, which is of course a great benefit in terms of economical and environment considerations. Storing rain water for later use also allows you to be self sufficient, in that you will not be as dependent on the water from your main source to some extent, depending on your particular rate of water consumption.
The stored water from the rain barrels may itself be used for garden irrigation and other agricultural purposes, for household uses such as flushing toilets, washing clothes and cars, and in some cases even for drinking. This can be a great benefit in areas where water is less available, cost prohibitive or unsafe to drink. This is one of the main reasons why rain barrels can often be seen in areas with arid climates, wherein water is collected during the rainy season and used later when water is scarce. When used for drinking however, water in rain barrels has to be filtered and otherwise protected from any type of contaminants.
Certain types of rain barrels may be quite costly, but the long term benefits usually far outweigh the initial costs. As an alternative, many homeowners use smaller rain barrels that collect smaller quantities of water. Rain barrels can even be fashioned from food containers that have been recycled, transport barrels, and even barrels used in the production of wine and whiskey. These types of rain barrels have the benefit of being quite inexpensive. Keep in mind that with these types of rain barrels, it is important to make sure that they are sufficiently sealed in order to prevent the entry of mosquitoes. Even seemingly protected from mosquito entry, these rain barrels can still contain dangerous mosquito larvae, especially if you do not use a filter.

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