April Showers Bring May Flowers
By Sarah Rogers
Clemson University Water Resources Extension Agent
Spring is finally here! Despite the many cold snaps we have had over the past few weeks, flowers are blooming. However, with a rain barrel those April showers can bring a lot more than just flowers. Rain barrels are a great way to help reduce water waste and lower your water bills.
Rainwater harvesting is an age-old practice that has been widely utilized for centuries. When rainwater is not being re-captured by the environment it produces runoff from the urban landscape’s impermeable surfaces (like concrete, asphalt, etc.) and carries pollutants into our waterways. Pollutants such as litter, plastic bags, cigarette butts, fertilizers, pet waste, soil, and many other contaminants all enter our waterways untreated. Rainwater harvesting is an easy practice that can be utilized in new and established communities.
Here are some of the many benefits of rainwater harvesting:
• Saves money on utility bills
• Decreased flooding by reducing the amount of water flowing over the landscape
• Superior source of water for irrigation. Some plants prefer rainwater to treated city water as it does not contain chlorine byproducts.
The easiest way to start rainwater harvesting is to use a rain barrel. Rain barrels can be placed at the end of roof gutters to collect water. The harvest potential is tremendous. A 1,000 square foot roof can yield nearly 620 gallons of water from just one inch of rain. Worried about your carbon footprint? Here’s some more motivation, for every million gallons of water saved, carbon emissions are reduced by 1 to 1.5 tons.
So, what are your next steps? If you are interested in installing a rain barrel, gutters do make for an easy transport system that can be easily modified to direct rainwater directly into the barrel. However, without gutters, rainwater can still be collected in the corner of your eaves, where rainwater naturally concentrates. It is best to install your barrel on a flat, elevated surface to create pressure for waterflow. If making your own rain barrel, it is important to install a screen on the top to help keep out insects and dirt. Rain barrels are available for purchase at many stores and online pre-assembled. Many feed supply stores will sell previously used food grade barrels that can be easily converted into a rain barrel. If interested in purchasing a pre-made barrel, please visit www.rainbarrelprogram.org/fdsc while supplies last.
