Rain Barrels and Rain Gardens
Inside your house remember to save water which you run from the tap while waiting for water to get hot or cold. Use the water to water your plants. In PA, water that has been in contact with people (bath, shower, dishwasher) may not be used on plants. Info from Penn State article, How to garden during drought conditions.
Help conserve water by using rain barrels. There are many styles on the market. Home-made systems are also possible. Read How to Build and Install a Rain Barrel and How to Install a Rain Garden by the Center for Watershed Protection or Build Your Own Rain Barrel by the Chesapeake Bay Foundation to learn how to make your own. Both are in PDF format so may take a moment to download. These are involved processes but if you are handy and have the appropriate tools this may work for you. You may find it easier to use a rain barrel if you set the barrel on concrete blocks as noted below. Keep this in mind when determining the length of tubing. The Union County Conservation District may offer free rain barrels again in spring 2009. Keep an eye on their website for dates.
For details on the setup and use of one particular store brand of rain barrel please continue reading.
The Great American Rain Barrel Company (TGARBC) sells a 60 gallon barrel that is easy to set up and use. You may opt to buy their "Save the rain diverter" to place in a downspout or use plastic tubing to connect the gutter to the barrel as noted in the above photos.
The lid on the TGARBC barrel unscrews for easy access to the inside of the barrel. The barrel also comes with a fine nylon mesh and plastic tray to help keep debris out of the water in the barrel. There are many mounting holes on the barrel, but you may find it easiest to screw the spigot into the lowest hole in order to use all the water collected in the barrel.
Raising the barrel, on three pairs of level concrete blocks for instance, makes it easier to fill a watering can. Be sure to secure the rain barrel to prevent it from blowing over when empty. Nylon cleats securely attached to the house on either side of barrel with nylon rope wrapped around the barrel is one method to use.
The barrel will oftentimes fill quickly, so providing a method for draining overflow water away from the house is an important part of any rain barrel system. Using the TGARBC barrel, it is possible to drain the overflow valve back into the existing gutter drainage system using corded PVC tubing attached between the barrel and the gutter. You may also link barrels together but you still need to drain overflow water from the end barrel. Note rain barrel photos above and click for full size.
Rain Barrels: A Homeowner's Guide by the Hillsborough County Water Dept. in FL: http://www.swfwmd.state.fl.us/publications/files/rain_barrels_guide.pdf
Read Planting & Maintaining Your Rain Garden by the Chicago Metropolitan Agency for Planning.
See the Conserve Water section of the EcoGardening page.
Water page includes further resources.
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