They redirect water from your roof to your home or garden
Rainfall of one inch within a 24 hour period can produce more than 700 gallons of water that runs off the roof. Much of the water runs from gutters on to surfaces that do not allow water to soak into the ground. These are called impervious surfaces and include concrete, asphalt and compacted soil. Runoff collects and transports soil, pet waste, salt, pesticides, fertilizer, oil and grease, litter and other pollutants. This water drains into nearby creeks, streams and rivers. Polluted storm water contaminates local waterways. It can harm plants, fish and wildlife, while degrading the quality of the water.
They irrigate your lawn and garden
During summer months it is estimated that 40 percent of household water is used for lawn and garden maintenance. A rain barrel collects water and stores it for the dry summer months when you need it most. Using rain barrels helps to lower water bills while improving lawn, plants, flowers and trees. Water collected from the roofs of houses picks up little contamination and is healthy for plant life. Rain barrels can be constructed in a number of ways, or prefabricated rain barrels can be purchased. Using rain barrels is one way to decrease your household’s impact on local waterways and to be a good steward of the local watershed.
