Putting Rain to Use

Alabama continues to deal with an ongoing drought. Three months ago, about 20 percent of the state was drought free. At the beginning of June, the drought free area had dropped to less than 10 percent.

Voluntary water restrictions remain in place across much of Alabama, leaving people wondering how to water their plants.

One professional with the Alabama Cooperative Extension System says people can harvest the rain when it comes and use it to water their containers and landscapes.

Eve Brantley, an Extension associate specializing in water resources and quality, says rain barrels are an easy and effective way to capture rainwater.

“It is fairly simple to modify existing gutter downspouts to divert water to rain barrels,” she says. “If a home doesn’t have gutters, people can install themselves or hire a professional.”

Brantley says many people have no grasp how much water pours off their homes during even the briefest shower.

“If you have about 1,000 square feet of roof, more than 600 gallons of water streams off it during a rainfall of just an inch.”

Brantley says to utilize the harvested rainwater, rain barrels must have a spout near the bottom to attach garden hoses or to fill a gardening can.

“If you raise the rain barrel several feet, it is even possible to run a low pressure irrigation system.”

Rain barrels can be purchased. An Internet search will reveal hundreds of sources. But Brantley says they are a fairly easy do-it-yourself project, with directions online.

“Sixty to 80 gallon plastic barrels are a good size and are widely available,” she says. “If you use a barrel you already own, make sure it is sturdy enough to withstand holding water and has never held anything toxic, and wash it thoroughly.”

Brantley says the barrel will need some type of screen lid, keeping mosquitoes and trash out.

“The most difficult part of building a rain barrel is probably drilling the hole and installing the faucet.”

Collecting rain water reduces homeowners’ water bills and reduces the strain on municipal water systems and wells.

Posted by lawremc at June 9, 2008 10:16 AM | TrackBack