Why use a rain barrel?

There is no "new" water   

The water we use today may be the same water some dinosaur drank or bathed in. The water we drink may have traveled through the water cycle hundreds of thousands of times since the earth was formed.

The water cycle is another way of saying that water is recycled.

It falls to earth in the form of rain or snow. Then it runs off into lakes, streams, and oceans or soaks into the ground to become part of the underground water supply. Water in lakes, streams, and oceans evaporates into clouds that make more rain and snow. The underground water eventually comes back to the surface. That water is used in many different ways and also eventually evaporates to become clouds that become rain or snow.

On the other hand, in developed places with houses and roads, rain and snowmelt falls on pavement and other impervious surfaces such as roofs, driveways, sidewalks and parking lots that don’t allow the water to be absorbed by the ground. The water that you see flowing down the street is sometimes called stormwater runoff.

When stormwater hits the pavement and other surfaces, it picks up and mixes with what’s there—including pollutants like oil, grease and fuel from cars and other engines, fertilizer and pesticides used on lawns, gardens and in the home, bacteria from pet waste, and bacteria and nutrients from improperly maintained septic systems.

Rain Barrels connect to your downspout, decreasing the amount of rain that runs off your property.

Why is that important?  Reduced rain and snowmelt runoff helps prevent water pollution and flooding.  Every time it rains, unabsorbed water rushes to storm drains and directly to local waterways.  Again, this water carries with it pollutants such as pet waste, automotive fluids and fertilizer.

Installing a rain barrel benefits the environment and you.  The water saved in rain barrels can be used for watering flowers, gardens and lawns all through the summer, even in times of drought. 

Reduced water demand will lower your use of municipal water supplies, saving your money!

Rain barrels are also easy because they require very little maintenance. 

LEARN MORE!

There are so many great websites that offer more information about rain barrels. 

Two places to begin are the Indiana Association of Soil and Water Conservation District's Pathway to Water Quality webpage on Rain Barrels and our webpage on Backyard Conservation.