Why buy a rain barrel?
A rain barrel or system of barrels is designed to make productive use of rain water that runs off your roof and would otherwise be wasted. Rain barrels sold online are typically closed on top and have hose attachments at the bottom for distributing the water. A closed rain barrel prevents evaporation and insect infestation (for instance mosquitos often breed in the bottoms of open barrels), and also makes it easy for you to use the water and get it to your garden without toting a pail or a watering can. Most commercially-made rain barrels are constructed out of PVC plastic or lightweight metal. Some are collapsible, making them easy to store. Others look like huge agricultural storage tanks. Which kind of barrel you choose depends on your personal situation and the space you have available. Some rain barrel systems can even recycle ‘grey water’; the water left over from dishwashing, bathing, and laundry that would normally be discarded down the drain. Soap residue is not harmful to pla
