Rain Barrels – Back to Basics

Our friends at Under One Roof, an Arlington County Blog on housing and more, shared this information about rain barrels with us: 

"The rain barrel idea is simple.  Stick a drum under your downspout at home to catch rainwater and store it for later use.  This helps the environment, lowers your water and sewer bill, and makes your garden thrive in dry times. There’s no point in throwing away rainwater if you can make use of it, right?  After all, water stored in your rain barrel is water that won’t rush off your property and into local streams.  By decreasing stormwater runoff, rain barrels help reduce stream erosion and the pollution that washes into Arlington streams and the Chesapeake Bay.

By installing a rain barrel at your home you will:

• Provide your plants with water they will love! Unlike treated water, which is “softened” with dissolved minerals, rain water is naturally soft. The water stored in your rain barrel is better than municipal water for washing your car and watering indoor or outdoor plants." ....

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