Saving Water - Sustainable Living Tip for April

The most sustainable source of fresh water falls from the sky. Try a rain barrel to collect and store rain water.

More to know about Water

1. With a roof area of 1,000 square feet, for every inch of rain you can collect approximately 600 gallons of rainwater.
2. During an average year in Brunswick (48 inches of annual rainfall) with a 1,000 square foot roof you could collect 28,800 gallons of water.
3. According to the United Nations Development Program, the average annual water consumption per person in Great Britain is 14,600 gallons, whereas in the United States it is 54,570 gallons.
4. Putting your rain barrel up on blocks will allow you to water any area of your yard that is lower than the barrel spigot.
5. Rain water is ideal for irrigation because it does not contain dissolved salts.
6. Rain barrels should have screens to keep out leaves and mosquitoes.
7. Rain barrels should have tight-fitting lids to prevent children and animals from falling into the barrel.
8. Rain barrels should have overflow diverters to allow excess water to be directed where desired. Multiple barrels can be connected.
9. In winter, rain barrels should be kept no more than 3/4 full to allow room for expansion as water freezes.
10. By capturing storm run-off from your roof, you are helping your local community manage storm water cost effectively.
11. By using rain water, you are protecting your community's other water resources from being depleted.
12. Using rain water saves energy because ground or surface water doesn't have to be pumped to you.
13. Using rain water instead of treated city water saves unnecessary use of chlorine and other chemicals.
14. Fresh rain water carries a much lower risk of chemical or biological contamination than surface or well water, but if you plan to drink your rain water, you may want to filter or boil it just in case.
15. Whether or not you are able to collect rain water, it's still important to use water efficiently. Low-flow showerheads that use less than 2.5 gallons per minute are an easy investment for a more water-efficient household.

Featured Products

Jack's rain barrel is made from a re-used 45 to 55 gallon food-grade polyethylene container, terra-cotta in color, with a screw top lid and bottom spigot for attaching a garden hose. $75 pick up in store only.

Niagara Chrome Showerhead. The 2.0 gpm adjustable spray of this showerhead delivers a broad, rain-like spray or a focused, pulsating massaging spray. More info >