Rain Barrels: Benefits and Uses

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Rain BarrelsBenefits and Uses
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What is a Rain Barrel?
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Collection of Water

• Rain barrel (a.k.a. cistern) is not something new
• Residents of some countries rely on rain water
  collected from their roofs daily
• Technology and water from the faucet have turned
  us away from using rain barrels
• The time has come to reconsider rain barrels
  because

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Barrel Benefits

• Provides clean water for outdoor uses
• Conserves water and other natural resources
• Decreases the chance or magnitude of a flood
• Minimizes the effects of drought
• Decreases water pollution contributions

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Uses of Rain Barrels

• ALL FOR FREE!

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Additional Benefits

• In turn, rain barrels conserve the water that
  comes from the ground (or land surface in some
  cases) into your faucet
• Decrease electric bill
• Decrease water bill
• Decrease sewer bill

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Stormwater Concepts

• Rain Barrels provide a method by which water can
  infiltrate into the ground as opposed to running
  over the land as stormwater runoff.
• Impervious Surfaces decrease infiltration and
  increase stormwater runoff.
• This stormwater often carries pollutants which
  contribute to nonpoint source pollution.

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Infiltration

• Infiltration is the movement of water from the
  land surface into the ground
• Plants and soil act as natural filters of
  pollution

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Stormwater Runoff

• Stormwater runoff is the movement of water over
  the surface of the land
• Stormwater runoff occurs on steep slopes, most
  often in places where infiltration cannot occur
  due to Impervious Surfaces
• Impervious Surfaces are solid surfaces on the
  landscape such as driveways, streets, roofs,
  which do not allow water to penetrate the land.
• Impervious Surfaces often harbor chemicals such
  as oil, antifreeze, and soil that, are carried by
  stormwater to the nearest body of water.

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NPS Pollution

• Nonpoint Source (NPS) Pollution is pollution that
  originates from many diffuse sources. It does
  not come from a single pipe.
• Stormwater runoff is the largest contributor to
  NPS Pollution.
• NPS Pollutants that are carried by stormwater
  include sediment, automotive fluids, household
  chemicals, fertilizers, pesticides, heavy metals,
  and animal wastes.

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Rain Barrels

• Allow for on-lot infiltration, thus recharging
  the groundwater, and
• Reduce the volume of stormwater flowing from your
  roof and over impervious surfaces, which
• Decreases the opportunity for NPS pollutants to
  be carried from and over impervious surfaces to a
  body of water, and
• Increases the opportunity for pollutant removal
  by roots and soil.

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Rain Barrels Benefit Yourself AND Those
Downstream.
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Water Balance
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Roof Top Runoff

• One inch of rain falling on a 1 sqft. roof
  creates .6 gallons of runoff
• Therefore, a ¼ inch-rainstorm occurring on a
  1,200 sqft. roof will generate 180 gallons of
  runoff

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It Adds Up
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Impervious Surfaces
Courtesy of the Adams County Conservation District
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Impervious Surfaces
Courtesy of the Adams County Conservation District
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Impervious Surfaces
Courtesy of the Adams County Conservation District
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Impervious Surfaces
Courtesy of the Adams County Conservation District
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Stroudsburg Area
1939
2000
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Summary

• Rain barrels benefit each of us as individual
  users
• Rain barrels benefits others in our watershed
• Rain barrels influence the overall quality and
  quantity of both surface water and groundwater

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Getting To Know Your Rain Barrel

• Installation
• Find a downspout
• - which either drains to impervious surface
• - or is the most convenient for your use
• Elevate barrel
• - so as to have room for a hose, bucket, or
  watering can
• Connect to downspout
• - when placed on platform, trim downspout a few
  inches above barrel
• - install an elbow to divert water onto the lid
  of the barrel
• Options for use
• - soaker hose to garden
• - install rain garden

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Getting To Know Your Rain Barrel

• Maintenance
• Inspect regularly
• Clean screen of debris (leaves and needles)
• Empty barrel and store for the winter

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Getting To Know Your Rain Barrel

• Safety
• Steady, level surface
• Bungee to keep from tipping
• Keep pets and children from climbing on or
  accessing the lid
• Prohibit drainage onto your house foundation