Rain barrels – also called cisterns – are an important component of water conservation. We hope the following pointers will help get you started.
Roofs are the best source of stormwater runoff. Ideally, stormwater should be collected in gutters and downspouts so you can harvest it for re-use. You can install gutters and downspouts if you don’t already have them.
Rain barrels get quite heavy when full, so be sure place them on a stable, level surface near a downspout so they don’t tip over. Here is a helpful video on how to do it yourself.
In this video, they show you how to make your own barrel and insert a diverter hose directly into the downspout so you don’t have to cut it and remove the bottom section:
Once your barrels are full, you will want to direct the overflow into your garden instead of losing it to gutter. Build a rain garden to receive that overflow, and you can retain and sink even more water into the ground to nourish your plants and reduce runoff.
You can also deep water your trees with rain barrel water. Attach a soaker hose to the barrel’s spigot and loop it around the base of the tree. Open the tap to let water flow out by gravity so it slowly sinks deep into the ground, reaching the roots. Close the tap and the barrel will be ready to fill up again in the next storm.