If you are looking for ways to save on your water bills and ensure that your plants and grass don't suffer in the next drought, consider an old-fashioned technology - rainwater harvesting with rain barrels.
A rain barrel collects and stores rainwater from your rooftop which can be used for a variety of non-potable uses including: watering your indoor plants and outdoor landscape. Using a rain barrel is a great first step to healthier rivers and streams and to reduce your need for municipal water supplies.
Rain barrels help slow down rain runoff so it can drain naturally into the ground. It also assists in keeping excess water out of sewer systems and keeps rain runoff from collecting pollutants (fertilizers, pet waste, salt, gas, oil, etc.) as it flows to nearby waterways.
There are manufactured rain barrels on the market, or you can construct your own with large plastic drums or even garbage cans. Rain barrels can be purchased at a variety of retail centers or made by using simple materials.
Some simple planning will prevent the most common problems with rain-saving.
If this all seems like a lot of work for a little water, remember that one inch of rain falling on 1,000 square feet of roof adds up to 623 gallons. That’s enough to keep a lot of plants happy!