Rain Barrel

Homeowners can take advantage of the water nature gives us. Using a rain barrel or cistern to collect rainwater can lower your water bill, be good for your plants, and protect the environment by reducing runoff from your property.

A rainwater harvesting or rain barrel system captures stormwater runoff, usually from a rooftop, and stores that water for later use. Using harvested rainwater for purposes that don’t require treated drinking water has many advantages:

• It reduces the demand on municipal water supplies and thus increases the sustainability of drinking water supplies.
• Its use may be exempt from restrictions during a drought.
• It can reduce water bills, meaning the system can partially pay for itself.
• It can protect local water quality by capturing nutrients and other pollutants from rooftop runoff, preventing them from contaminating surface waters.
• It can contribute valuable plant nutrients, such as nitrogen and phosphorus, to garden irrigation water.

For more information on uses and installation visit this Brunswick County North Carolina Extension Article