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Rain Barrels Are Good For You and the Environment

We lived in a row house in the city for years and years and did not have a big enough yard to even worry about watering when the weather was hot and dry. We recently moved to a house with a bigger yard that requires more maintenance and attention. My husband is adamant about not watering the grass in our yard, even when we hit a hot and dry patch with the weather. Luckily, the majority of our neighbors have the same opinion. The plants and bushes are another story. We have had an inordinate amount of rain this year. In between those really wet weeks, though, there were really hot weeks. Every time I would turn on the hose outside, I felt guilty that I had not collected some rain from the downpours. It was time for some rain barrels.
I read a shocking statistic once that an estimated 40 percent of household water in the summer months is used to water gardens and lawns. If every home owner utilized rain barrels for lawn care, it would conserve enormous amounts of clean water. The state of Maryland estimates that a homeowner could save 1,300 gallons of water during peak summer months by utilizing rain barrels. Water is already scarce in many places. It should not be squandered. City sewer infrastructures are more frequently overflowing during downpours, due to population increases. Rain barrels can decrease the demand on those systems. In a world where almost nothing is free anymore, rain water is one of the exceptions. The most inexpensive way to keep your yard green is by using rain barrels to capture rain water. If your town has certain times when you are allowed to water, your own supply in rain barrels gives you the option to water anytime you please. Municipal water contains chlorine, which is not so good for our soil or environment. Rain water is chlorine free.
Utilizing your existing downspouts and gutters, rain barrels offer a place to store the harnessed water for when you need it. Rain barrels come in all shapes and sizes with a wide price range. There are basic plastic barrels, or a fancy pottery barrels that will dazzle your neighbors. I recommend child proofing your rain barrels, which means making sure all barrels have a secure top or are too narrow for a child to get inside. If mosquitoes are an issue in your neighborhood, cover your intake with a filter. Rain barrels with overflow hoses and a spout are also very handy.
If you are a homeowner, get some rain barrels. Even if you do not own your home, get your landlord on board and offer to install a barrel yourself. Help your bottom line and the world by installing some rain barrels. I am embarrassed that my environmentally conscious household waited so long to do it.

This Article Was Written By: George Wonderman

More information about rain barrels, visit www.palmettorainbarrels.com.

Article Source: http://www.the-landscape-design-site.com/diy

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