Rain Barrels
- What is a rain barrel?
- What is the water used for?
- Why is using a rain barrel good for the environment?
- How many rain barrels do I need?
- Installation of rain barrels
- Montgomery County Tax Rebate
- Resources
What is a rain barrel?
A rain barrel is a water storage device that collects rain water from the roof gutters and down spouts and stores it for use at a later time.
What is the water used for?
- Vegetable garden
- Flower pots, border planting and shrubs
- Car washing and outdoor power washing or deck cleaning
- Hot tub refills
- Extra water reserve for fire protection and earthquakes
Why is using a rain barrel good for the environment?
- Saves energy and fresh water by not using water from the tap
- Reduces runoff problems in the Chesapeake Bay watershed.
- Reduces water pollution by limiting silt and chemical wash in runoff.
How many rain barrels do I need?
An average house (2,000 sqft of roof) generates, 200 gallons of water per inch of rainfall. An average rain barrel holds 50 gal of water. Even in a small rain, you can easily fill 4 or 5 barrels to capacity.
For rain barrels to be a valuable investment for you and the environment, you need to use the water you collect because full rain barrels don't collect runoff. We recommend starting with one barrel to begin to gauge your water usage.
Installation of Rain Barrels
The rain barrel should be installed so a downspout runs directly into the barrel. Install the barrel on the downspout nearest the garden, provided its uphill. It is best to elevate the rain barrel on a stand 12in or more off the ground. This allows increased water pressure in the hose and the opportunity to drain all of the water out of the barrel.
The overflow piping is very important to handle any rainwater beyond the capacity of the barrel. The overflow pipe is usually connected to a buried drainage pipe running to the street or back of the property.
Services provided by Evans Homes and Gardens:
- Installation of rain barrel including buried drainage pipe for overflow.
- Beautification of rain barrel with planting and/or cedar paneled wooden box
We also provide rain barrels at our retail garden center. For a list of products we offer, please click here or visit the garden center.
Montgomery County Rain Barrel Rebate
Montgomery County offers a rebate of $200 per household for anyone installing a rain barrel in their home. For more information on this rebate, click here.
Resources
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