What are some benefits of rain barrels & cisterns?
Reducing Municipal Water Demand Using rainwater for landscaping and household needs frees up municipal water for necessities such as firefighting during the peak summer months, when reserves are low. Reducing our demand during peak months mitigates the need to add water infrastructure such as wells and storage tanks, which may increase rates for consumers. Reducing Stormwater Runoff As land is developed for homes and businesses, more land is covered by impervious surfaces such as parking lots, driveways, and buildings, so rainwater cannot slowly percolate into the soil and instead rushes into our waterways. Rainwater harvesting diverts stormwater which would carry pollution and debris such as pet waste, motor oil, fertilizer and pesticide runoff, litter, and sediment into our lakes and streams. This pollution, and the enormous volume of stormwater that is swiftly propelled into our waterways after storm events, can increase flooding, erode streambeds, damage stream and lake life, and i
