Rain Water Harvesting
Rain barrels are used to catch water flowing from your eaves trough. Using this water instead of tap water is an easy and economical way to help you maintain a healthy yard.
Why Use a Rain Barrel?
- A considerable portion of the City of Calgary’s total electricity bill is spent on water treatment. Using a rain barrel means that less water needs to treated, cutting down on water waste and reducing demand on water treatment facilities, which in the end saves us all money.
- Rainwater is soft, non-chlorinated rainwater and in the summer at the perfect temperature for plants. Your plants and trees will thank you for the all-natural water.
- Using a rain barrel reduces runoff and keeps H2O out of the sewers and our rivers helping to protect against the possibility of flooding.
Maintaining a Rain Barrel
Rain barrels are relatively maintenance-free during the spring and summer months.
- One tablespoon of olive oil in your water will keep mosquitoes from breeding in the barrel. Moreover, mosquitoes do not lay eggs in the deep water that tends to be collected in a rain barrel but prefer to lay eggs in shallow pools.
- Install a piece of mesh to act as a leaf catcher for your eaves troughs.
- If the top of your rain barrel is open, ensure you have a separate cover or screen to keep out insects, and curious animals or children.
In winter; take your rain barrel out of operation. When water freezes, it expands, possibly cracking your barrel or hose.
What about Mosquitoes Breeding in my Rain Barrel?
Many Calgarians are already aware that the West Nile virus is spread by mosquitoes. You can still use a rain barrel this spring and summer! Just be sure to take a few precautions.
- Empty your rain barrel completely once a week. This will kill all mosquito larvae that may be in your barrel.
- Where your downspout enters the barrel, ensure you have a fine piece of mesh to block mosquitoes from entering.
- Make sure your barrel is covered. This will not only keep out mosquitoes, but other curious animals.
- Keep your barrel free of organic material.
Setting up Your Rain Barrel
First, locate the downspout most convenient for barrel placement. You may want to set the barrel on some concrete blocks or flagstones for extra stability.
To connect the rain barrel to the downspout
- Install a downspout diverter. This leads part of the rainwater into the barrel, while the downspout still functions as if the barrel weren't present. The device also directs excess rainwater back into the downspout once the barrel is full, preventing any potential problems with overflowing.
- Also, by moving a diverter or using pieces of garden hose, several rain barrels can be connected to one another or filled from the same downspout.
Downspout diverter kits can be purchased at garden and home improvement centres throughout Calgary.