What is a rain barrel?

A rain barrel is a container used to collect and store rainwater from your roof that would otherwise be lost to runoff and diverted out onto your property or to a storm drain and eventually to local streams or rivers.

Rain barrels are also an economical way to store rain water to be used as a secondary water supply for indoor plants, flower gardens, lawns, fill the bird bath, and washing cars and windows.

Rain barrels are usually about 40-60 gallons and can be purchased or made relatively easily. The parts are available at any hardware store.

*Stored water is not used for drinking or bathing* Why use rain barrels?

Every time it rains, unabsorbed water rushes to storm drains and directly into our local waterways. Often times this runoff carries with it pollutants it has picked up along the way depositing in them into local waterways.

Any rainwater in an urban or suburban area that does not evaporate or infiltrate into the ground is considered stormwater.

Infiltration is when water on the ground surface soaks into the soil. Impervious surfaces like roofs, asphalt, and concrete do not allow Rain water from your roof and driveway travels to the street and into storm drains for the infiltration to occur. eventually draining into our creeks, lakes, and rivers. Infiltration of water on pervious surfaces is important because it reduces the amount runoff and the possibility of erosion and pollutants leaving a site and entering a waterway. What can rain barrels do for you?

Healthier plants. Rain water collected is Reduces the water bill. During the “soft water”, water that does not contain summer dry months water collected minerals and chemicals like chlorine, can be used as a supplementary calcium or fluorine. The chemicals provide water source for indoor and outdoor protection for consumers, but are plants, flower gardens, and unnecessary for lawns and gardens. landscaping care.

Reduces the amount of water that settles around the foundation of a building. The water that pools at the bottom of a downspout outlet can be collected by a rain barrel and dispersed away from a building. What can rain barrels do for our watersheds?

Every household can do its part for their watershed by reducing the amount of runoff coming from their property.

Every time it rains, unabsorbed water rushes to storm drains and directly to local waterways. By collecting the stormwater from downspouts the cycle that allows precipitation from a roof to become stormwater runoff is broken.

Pollutants such as pet waste, automotive fluids, sediment and fertilizer are kept on site and can be removed in an environmentally friendly way. What does a rain barrel look like?

The basic design of a rain barrels consists of a container with an opening in the top of the barrel to collect the rain water from the downspout.

The down spout is either connected directly to the top of the container or is placed over the opening.

A spigot locate near the bottom of the barrel to allow for removal of the water in the barrel.

There is also an overflow located near the top of the barrel.

There is usually a screen or filter on the opening that keeps out mosquitoes, leaves, and other debris. What does a rain barrel look like?

A good way to make your rain barrel more presentable is to paint it. Painted Rain Barrels How do I build my own rain barrel?

Tools: Materials: drill polyethylene barrel (approx. 55 gallons) drill bits (6/32") (3/4”) ¾-inch lock nut Drainage Plug jigsaw ¾-inch male threaded boiler drain 1. Use a ½-inch hole-saw to make a 1/2 - inch hole through the barrel about 1 ½-inch hole saw 1 ¼-inch Universal drain hose kit 1 inch from the base of the barrel. Keep in mind, the drainage hole ½-inch hole saw ½-inch riser adapter (2) should be placed so that water can be drained away from the building, jigsaw metal cutting blade 9-inch square drain grate preferably in the direction of a garden or other landscaping. 6/32-inch flat-head bolt and wing nut (4) 2. Wrap the threads of one ½-inch riser adapter (#5) with Teflon tape (2-3 ½-inch poly drain plug revolutions) (#11). insect screen 3. Insert the threaded end into the barrel and apply silicon caulk around the plastic zip ties area where the male threaded end enters the barrel. This will be on the Teflon tape inside of the barrel; two people will make this step easier. 4. Attach the other ½-inch riser adapter (#5) to the threaded end and Bottom Spigot tighten to ensure a secure fit. 1. Use a 1-inch hole-saw to make a 1-inch hole, approximately 5 inches 5. The ½-inch poly drain plug (#8) should fit securely in the internal thread on center from the base of the barrel. 5 inches allows for clearance of of the riser exposed outside of the barrel. a hose (if attached), and room for a watering can or bucket 6. Use a zip tie to secure a small patch of mosquito netting around the end underneath the spigot, if desired. on the inside of the barrel. 2. Wrap the threads of the ¾-inch boiler drain (#3) with Teflon tap (2-3 revolutions). Insert the threaded end of the boiler drain into the barrel, and apply silicon caulk around the area where the male Overflow threaded end enters the barrel. 1. Use a 1 ½-inch hole-saw to make a 1 ½-inch hole, approximately 4 3. Attach a ¾-inch lock nut (#2) to the threaded end and tighten to inches on center from the top of the barrel. Keep in mind, the overflow ensure a secure fit. You will have to reach into the barrel for this. Two hole should be placed so that water overflows away from the building. people will make this step easier. 2. Wrap the threads of the 1 ¼-inch pipe thread to hose bib (#4) with Teflon tap (2-3 revolutions). 3. Insert the non-hose threaded end into the barrel, and apply silicon caulk Inlet Screen around the area where the male threaded end enters the barrel. 1. Make a pilot hole in the center of the lid of the barrel, using a 4. Attach a 1 ½-inch lock nut (#2) to the threaded end and tighten to ¾-inch drill bit. ensure a secure fit. You will have to reach into the barrel for this. 2. Use a permanent marker to trace a circle 7 inches in diameter 5. Use a zip tie to secure a small patch of mosquito netting around the end in the center of barrel top. on the inside of the barrel. 3. Cut the traced area with a jigsaw metal cutting blade. 6. Attach a hose, if desired, to direct more water to another landscaped 4. Cut a piece of insect-proof screen (#9), so that it can have a 2- location. inch overlap on the perimeter of the bottom of the drain gate. 5. Using the zip ties (#10), affix the screen to the bottom of the drain gate. 6. Secure the grate to the top of the barrel using four 6/32-inch bolts with wingnuts (#7) if the lid is removable. (For non- removable lids use threaded screws of equal diameter.) How do I build my own rain barrel?

Helpful Hints: Make sure you thoroughly clean out your container: Food grade drums that were used to carry juices, olives, pickles, etc. are usually used as To clean the barrel, rinse the inside of the the barrel. Local recycling centers and barrel with a mixture of 1/8 cup of bleach bottling companies are good places to find and 5 gallons of water to wash away food or food grade drums. juice remnants.

The darker the color the better because sun An environmentally friendly way to clean light cannot filter through the barrel as easily the barrel is use 2 tsp. of castile soap and 2 and promote algae growth with a dark tsp. of vinegar or lemon juice for every shaded barrel. gallon of water used.

Directions on how to make you own rain barrel are located at these sites, depending on the container you have and design you want. http://www.rainbarrelguide.com http://sarasota.extension.ufl.edu/Hort/Pubs/rain_barrels_guide.pdf http://www.cityofbremerton.com/content/sw_makeyourownrainbarrel.html http://www.longwood.edu/cleanva/rainbarrels.htm http://www.capitolregionwd.org/Education%20Outreach%20Events/Assemble%20a%20Rain%20Barr el.pdf Where Can I Purchase a Rain Barrel?

Ready-made rain barrels are available at several online sites. Rain barrels can be purchased at these sites or by searching the Internet for rain barrels: www.bayteccontainers.com/rain-barrel.html www.aquabarrel.com www.thecarycompany.com/containers/drums/rain_barrels.html www.nextag.com/rain-barrels/products-html www.aridsolutionsinc.com/page/page/1117909.htm

Locally, you can get a pop up rain barrel from Target. Ace Hardware has rain barrels that can be purchased online and picked up at the store. How much rain water?

How much water that will be collected at each downspout depends on the size and number of downspouts located on a roof.

For a 1,000 square foot area during a 1” rainfall there is approximately 623 gallons of water that can be collected.

Usually rain barrels are 40-60 gallon.

Several rain barrels can be linked together to collect more rain water. Maintenance on your Rain Barrel

During the rainy months, routinely inspect your rain barrel. Remove any debris that has accumulated on the lid that might block the screen mesh.

Routinely clean the inside of your rain barrel and gutters to ensure there is no clogging.

Unless stated by the manufacturer disconnect your rain barrel in the winter months and turn it upside down or store it in a dry area to prevent cracking of the barrel due to freeze/thaw and redirect the downspout away from the foundation.

If you keep your rain barrel outside during the winter make sure the bottom spigot is open so the water can drain out of the barrel at all times. Rain barrels are not meant for long term storage. Empty your rain barrel completely once a week to avoid stagnant water. Make sure no standing water is on the top of your barrel. Other Tips

To Avoid Mosquitoes: Do not collect the first flush from Depending on your rain barrel design, ensure your roof. This will allow you to that all connections to the barrel are sealed and screen debris and avoid water that all fine screens are not damaged. contaminated by bird droppings It takes approximately 4 days of standing water and dust. for mosquito larvae to develop. If you think there When installing your rain barrel, is a problem use small portions of Mosquito remove the existing downspout Dunks that kills mosquito and black fly larvae for and elbow intact and store for 30 days or more, and will not affect plants, reinstallation in the late fall. people or wildlife. Read the directions on the mosquito dunks before using them. Avoid using rainwater on food- producing gardens that has been collected from asphalt roofing, redwood, cedar or treated wood shingles and shakes. Those surfaces may contaminate water and soil by leaching toxic materials when wet.