Released April 17, 2009
BENTONVILLE, Ark. - Gardeners getting ready for the growing season can take advantage of free water via the use of rain barrels, says Trish Ouei, stormwater educator with the University of Arkansas Division of Agriculture.
"Rain barrels capture free, soft, non-chlorinated rainwater and serve as a cost-effective alternative to using tap water for watering yards and gardens," says Ouei. Conserving rainwater also reduces the amount of stormwater runoff at home, saving additional headaches.
They're also simple to make. All it takes is a barrel, a hose, and some ingenuity.
Most rain barrels are containers, commonly an old plastic food drum with a spout or faucet attached, used to collect rainwater from rooftops. These are inexpensive and easy to maintain. Barrel enthusiasts can buy theirs locally or build their own system.
Typically, a resident directs a gutter downspout into a 50- to 60-gallon rain barrel. A hose can be attached to a faucet at the bottom of the barrel to release water by gravity and the water's own weight.
"Using this water for irrigation is an easy and economical way to help you maintain a healthy lawn and garden," says Ouei.
Mosquitoes are always a concern with quantities of stagnant water. This can be prevented by covering the top of the barrel with a mesh material or window screen—or by adding a mosquito doughnut to the barrel.
"Consider installing a rain barrel at your house to see the benefits, and reduce the amount of runoff produced during the next rain," says Ouei.
A quick guide for constructing rain barrels can be found at the Beaver Water District's Web site, http://www.bwdh2o.org, by selecting "Newsroom." Additional information is available at the University of Arkansas Cooperative Extension Service Web site, http://www.uaex.edu.
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http://www.uaex.edu/news/april2009/0417stormwater.htm
Contact: Elizabeth Fortune, (501) 671-2120, efortune@uaex.edu
