Today’s Wall Street Journal writes about watering restrictions and the challenges of keeping your plants green, as we mentioned in a previous post.
Here’s a potential solution in the Dallas Morning News — rain barrels!
From 30-gallon barrels placed underneath a gutter downspout to 1,000-gallon tanks set up in the back yard, the systems provide an alternative source of landscape water, which is becoming a long-term issue in North Texas, despite the recent rains.”Rain barrels have been around forever, from the ancient Greeks to the Old West,” says Clean Air Gardening owner Lars Hundley, whose Dallas-based mail-order business offers several models online. “They are making a comeback because it’s an easy way to get free water.”
In the simplest set-up, a rain barrel with an open top is placed underneath a gutter downspout, catching rainwater runoff from the roof. Commercial containers typically hold 50 to 80 gallons of water, have screening devices for keeping out debris and insects, and come in different shapes, such as flat-backed models that sit flush against the house. Some are made from recycled materials such as old wine casks and previously used PVC food containers. Prices start around $100 and go up based on features. Resourceful do-it-yourselfers can purchase valve fittings and build barrel systems themselves. Multiple barrels can be connected to increase storage capacity.
Don’t miss the rain barrel section of our web site, where we have many models to choose from.
{ 0 comments… add one now }