Rain barrels

Function

Rutgers Cooperative Extension (New Jersey): a rain barrel is placed under a gutter's downspout next to a house, small shed or other outdoor structure to collect rainwater from the roof. The water can then be used in various ways including to water a garden. Function.

Function

Rutgers Cooperative Extension (New Jersey): most rain barrels are fitted with a faucet at the bottom, and a drain (hose adaptor) towards the top of the barrel to drain overflow when the rain barrel fills up. A hose is hooked up to the overflow drain to direct the excess rainwater away from the house or building. Function.

Limit

Rutgers Cooperative Extension (New Jersey): a home with an 800 square foot roof area, in a 1.25 inch rain storm, will drain approximately 600 gallons of water from the roof. The average rain barrel holds 50 gallons of water. Named-source arithmetic — not a BioArva yield.

Placement

Rutgers Cooperative Extension (New Jersey): overflow directed to a pervious area such as a garden, mulched planting bed, or lawn. When directed to a pervious area, overflow at least six (6) feet from the house or building foundation if there is a basement and at least two (2) feet if there is a crawl space. Placement.

Placement

Rutgers Cooperative Extension (New Jersey): when full, a 55 gallon rain barrel will weigh about 460 pounds.

Placement

Rutgers Cooperative Extension (New Jersey): level ground. Placement.

Method

Rutgers Cooperative Extension (New Jersey): the barrel should be elevated above ground using a platform. Use cinder blocks, bricks, or wood to create a platform. Method.

Method

Rutgers Cooperative Extension (New Jersey): hold the elbow next to the downspout pipe at the level where water can enter directly into the barrel. Use a pencil to mark a line on the downspout pipe about two (2) inches below the top of the elbow. Method.

Method

Rutgers Cooperative Extension (New Jersey): a screen is kept on all openings to the barrel at all times. When constructing a rain barrel, fiberglass or aluminum window screen can be used. Method.

Method

Rutgers Cooperative Extension (New Jersey): rain barrels should be drained and disconnected from the downspout and garden hose during the winter. The rain barrel can be stored indoors or stored outside standing upside down. Method.

Limit

Rutgers Cooperative Extension (New Jersey): harvested water in a rain barrel should not be used as a drinking water source. Their restriction — not a BioArva assurance.

Limit

New Jersey FS1118 sheet. Named-source components and methods — not a watering schedule and not a product.

Function

Virginia Cooperative Extension (Virginia): rain barrels are small collection tanks (larger ones are called cisterns) that are installed at the ends of or near downspouts to collect rainwater runoff from a roof. Function.

Function

Virginia Cooperative Extension (Virginia): a rain barrel has three main parts: the inflow, outflow, and overflow. The barrel can be placed under a downspout or within a few feet of one. Function.

Method

Virginia Cooperative Extension (Virginia): rainwater flows into the top of the barrel directly from the downspout or through a downspout diverter hose (inflow). Method.

Placement

Virginia Cooperative Extension (Virginia): the spigot is usually inserted 8 to 12 inches from the bottom of the barrel so a bucket or other container can fit under it. Placement.

Function

Virginia Cooperative Extension (Virginia): the overflow is an opening near the top of the barrel that allows excess rainwater to exit the barrel when it is full. If a downspout diverter is used, an overflow hole may not be necessary. Function.

Placement

Virginia Cooperative Extension (Virginia): the barrels should be placed at the downspouts closest to where the water will be used. The average rain barrel holds 45 to 60 gallons of water. Placement.

Limit

Virginia Cooperative Extension (Virginia): in a 1-inch rain event, a 1,000-square-foot area of roof will generate 600 gallons of water. That's about 12 barrels. Named-source arithmetic — not a BioArva yield.

Limit

Virginia Cooperative Extension (Virginia): the water should be used so the barrel is empty for the next storm. Limit — not a garden watering amount.

Method

Virginia Cooperative Extension (Virginia): if you live where winter temperatures regularly drop below freezing, drain the barrels and leave the spigots open. Method.

Method

Virginia Cooperative Extension (Virginia): check the gutters, downspout, barrel spigot, and outflow to make sure they are not clogged, especially in the fall when leaves are falling and in spring when pollen is heavy. Method.

Placement

Virginia Cooperative Extension (Virginia): one gallon of water weighs 8.34 pounds, so a full rain barrel can weigh over 375 pounds.

Limit

Virginia SPES-10P sheet. Named-source components and methods — not a watering schedule and not a product.