Henrico officials encourage use of rain barrels as way to conserve resources
This summer, Henrico County residents have experienced one of the most significant droughts in years, and many are looking for ways to conserve natural resources.
When it comes to landscaping and gardening, homeowners may struggle to keep up with watering, especially when temperatures continue to soar and rainstorms can be few and far between. Even in times of average rainfall, advocates recommend being good stewards of the environment and using water resources responsibly.
To help meet this challenge, rain barrels can be an effective resource for capturing and reusing water that runs off residential and commercial buildings during rainstorms.
One inch of rainfall can provide up to 600 gallons of water per 1,000 square feet of roof. That means that the average rain barrel can fill up quickly, giving users a free, natural resource for their external water needs.
“There are many benefits to using free rainwater for your landscaping,” said Steve Yob, Henrico's deputy county manager for Community Operations. “Drinking water is pumped from the river, treated with chemicals, filtered to remove sediment, disinfected, tested and then pumped through pipes and tanks to get to your house. Free rainwater eliminates all these uses of energy and resources, and your plants will be all the happier for it.”
Rainwater can be used for vegetable gardens, flower beds, trees, shrubs and even bird baths.
Collecting stormwater can be an effective way to help the environment by tapping into a natural resource that doesn’t impact the water supply. Harvesting water in rain barrels also can help slow stormwater runoff that can cause soil erosion.
In addition, captured rainwater can be used to offset watering needs in times of moderate to severe drought, regardless of potential usage restrictions.
“I’ve used water from my rain barrels for years,” said Geoff Weidele, a resident of Henrico and member of Henrico’s Environmental Action Resource Team. “It feels good to tap into this resource knowing it can help minimize my impact on the environment.”
Rain barrels also can help control mosquitoes, since mosquitoes breed in standing water but can be deterred by screening a barrel’s openings and by using non-chemical mosquito dunk products.
Pre-made rain barrels and build-it-yourself kits can be purchased online and at local retailers; prices typically range between $80 and $200 for a 50-gallon rain barrel.
For those who want to build their own rain barrels, the James River Association will hold a rain barrel workshop at North Park Branch Library on Thursday, Sept. 24 at 6 p.m. Registration is $50, and details are available on the Henrico County Public Library website.
