Why Use a Rain Barrel or Cistern?
The first inch of rain carries the most pollutants to nearby waterways, so holding back just the first inch of rain can be critical in preventing pollutants from entering streams. Also, rain barrels and cisterns can also be a very effective tool against basement water problems. In the garden, your rain barrel can help with your watering during dry times. Our rain barrel empties into a soaker hose so water slowly waters our plants and trees during dry periods. How Much Rain Can You Collect? A lot of water comes off of a roof when it rains, so you might want more than one barrel or a cistern instead. For every 1,000 square feet of roof area served by a downspout, 600 gallons of water comes out during a 1-inch rain! Don’t worry so much about the barrel overflowing; ones that are built correctly have overflow hoses that you can direct away from your house, in case of a heavy rain. Or you can hook up a series of rain barrels that empty into one another, with the last one overflowing through
