Rain barrel
Rain barrels save thousands of gallons of water each year by collecting runoff from a building's roof. The barrels, sometimes called cisterns, use a gutter and downspout system. Rain barrels save you money on your water bill, direct water away from building foundations and keep water from storm drain systems, reducing pollutants entering local rivers and streams. Does this Spark an idea?
Instructions
1. Install your rain barrel by choosing a downspout close to the area you'll be watering. Saw off the downspout, about 4 inches above the top of the barrel. Add the flexible downspout hose to the end.
Place the concrete blocks or pavers under the downspout. Put the barrel on top, making sure the platform is a bit wider all around than the barrel. Make sure the spigot is high enough off the ground to be usable. Adjust the flexible hose so it pours directly into the top of the barrel.
2. Attach a garden hose to the spigot. Use this to wash your car, water your container plants, bathe the dog or top off a swimming pool.
3. Attach a soaker hose to the spigot. Soaker hoses slowly deliver water directly to a plant's roots, giving them a deep watering and avoiding evaporation. Connect an automatic, battery-operated timer to the spigot so you don't have to worry about remembering to turn off the water.
4. Use your rain barrel as a graywater container by diverting the rinse water from your washing machine. Every county's regulations are different, but most require that graywater not be stored for more than 24 hours, that it not run off into the soil, and that it be used with a soaker hose. Avoid detergents containing boron, sodium and chlorine. Most "green" detergents contain nontoxic ingredients that are beneficial to your plants.
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