6 Benefits of Rain Barrels
Did you know that rain barrels can help save over 1000 gallons of water?
That’s equivalent to almost 13 bath tubs full of water!
That’s a lot of water saved – and if everyone had a rain barrel, that would make a really big impact.
Unfortunately, many homes still do not have a rain barrels installed.
But WAT-er you waiting for? Drip, drip, drop goes the clock. Learn the benefits of rain barrels.
With the spring melt upon us and April Showers coming our way, it’s important to remember the big role that rain barrels can play in conserving water.
We’ve partnered up with our friends over at Rain Barrel.ca help spread the word about the benefits of rain barrels. Check them out!
There are plenty of reasons WHY installing a Rain Barrel is a good and green idea. Check them out below.
1. Reduce Water Bills
You can conserve a vital resource while you save money. Since you can save nearly 1,000 gallons of water, this can help you save money on your water bill by reusing this water in a strategic way to water plants both inside and outside. You can also use it to wash your car or your pets! Some homeowners have calculated the savings to be about $485 (CAD) a year!
2. Grow Lush & Healthy Plants
Sometimes plants aren’t big fans of tap water, for many reasons. Perhaps because it is treated with various chemicals for disinfection purposes which might not go well with the nutrients that the plant requires. However, using rain water can help provide the plants with more natural sources of water that is better to help maintain their growth.
3. Protect your property
Installing a rain barrel can help prevent ponding and flooding in your yard. This can help control moisture levels around your house foundation to reduce the risk of flooding. Every homeowner wants to keep a dry home! Installing a rain barrel can help. In addition, installing a rain barrel and downspout diverter can help redirect rain water away from your home’s foundation and to areas of your property where you want it to go.
4. Reduce the stress on municipal systems
Residential stormwater runoff systems have limits. They can reach capacity if there is heavy rainfall or if there is a blockage in the sewer system. You can help divert water from your municipal storm drain system by installing a rain barrel. Rain barrels help reduce the amount of water entering our overloaded storm sewers.
A recent two-year study in Ontario demonstrated that 1,000 households using rain barrels could divert 4.5 million litres of rainwater runoff away from a municipality’s sewer system.
5. Provide free sustainable sourcing of water for indoor plants + gardens
Rain keeps falling! Whether we like it or not, there will be rain from the spring into the fall. This provides a great opportunity to harvest rainwater and help quench the thirst of indoor and outdoor plants and gardens.
6. Helps protect rivers, streams and ponds from runoff pollution
Rain barrels help reduce pollution runoff. As the water runs along a surface, it can pick up litter, petroleum, chemicals, fertilizers, and other toxic substances which end up in our local waterways. After heavy rainfalls, some runoff can even pick up sewage and medical waste. Rain barrels and downspout diverters redirect rainwater to be naturally filtered through the earth and away from these surfaces.
How Do Rain Barrels Help The Environment?
Severe weather across Canada caused $2.4 billion in insured damage in 2020. Flooding, erosion, and melting permafrost were found to pose the greatest harms for these damages.
We need to take action to better manage rain, where it falls, and protect this natural resource and the local environment.
If you want to learn more about urban environments, check out our blog:
6 Ways Permeable Pavement Benefits The Earth
🌎 Are you looking for an eco-friendly fundraising idea?
RainBarrel.ca offers a unique fundraising program for non-profit groups across Canada and the USA
Random Acts of Green has hosted a Rain Barrel fundraiser for the last two years with splashing success!
We were able to help provide affordable rain barrels and rolling composters in our hometown community of Peterborough, Ontario, and the Kawartha Region!
Join Our Email Community
Gain exclusive access to green trends, tips, and tricks when you sign up for our free newsletter. Enter your email to join our community of changemakers!
More Blog Posts:
Sustainable LGBTQ Owned Brands and Organizations To Support For Pride Month (and beyond!)
Sustainable LGBTQ owned Businesses to support! Learn about the connection between this community & their inclusion in the environmental movement.
The Guide to Veganuary!
Whether you are going full vegan or starting to eat less meat, our guide to veganuary will help you go plant-based in 2023.
