Looking to take advantage of all this Washington rain? Here’s how to set up a rain barrel
The Pacific Northwest is known for its rainy weather, but after an unusually wet spring and with summer around the corner, many are looking to store rainwater for use in their gardens through rain barrels or cisterns.
On a 1,000-square-foot roof, one inch of rain will supply almost 650 gallons of water, according to an article from King County.
Harvesting the water that falls on your roof or in your gutters is not only great to water plants with, but it can also help keep storm water out of sewage systems.
“When storms occur and large quantities of water go down storm drains, it can pollute local waterways. In some neighborhoods, storm drains flow directly into sewer pipes and heavy storms can cause overflows. By harvesting the rain that falls on your roof, you are keeping storm water out of sewer pipes,” King County’s website states.
Building your own rain barrel
There are rain barrels available for purchase at stores such as The Home Depot, Walmart, Amazon and Lowes, but you can also build your own.
Home Depot provides step-by-step instructions on how to build a rain barrel, including a shopping list of needed materials and a list of the required equipment to put it together.
Simple rain barrels can be made with a garbage can or large plastic drum. To make an at-home rain barrel system, King County recommends connecting several barrels with a pipe, adding spigots to each barrel and attaching an overflow drain on the last barrel to direct any overflowing water to a safe location.
Once your rain barrel is set up:
▪ Add a screen to the barrel to keep leaves and other debris out of the water.
▪ Install an overflow drain or other device to direct overflow water away from your house’s foundation.
▪ Install a light-blocking and tight-fitting lid to prevent the growth of algae, and keep children and animals out of the water.
▪ Monitor your rain barrel regularly in case of overflow or other issues.
Rain barrels should also have a screen or be emptied at least every 10 days to prevent mosquitoes or other insects from using the rain barrel as a breeding site, according to the Centers for Disease and Control Prevention’s website.
The City of Bellingham has rain barrel safety tips in order to sustain a safe, working rain barrel:
▪ Only use food-grade barrels.
▪ Avoid collecting rainwater from roofs that have been treated with chemicals.
▪ If you choose to use collected rainwater for growing edible fruits, vegetables or herbs, always rinse the food with tap water before consuming.
▪ Prevent mosquitoes from breeding by placing a tablespoon of vegetable oil in your barrel.
▪ Be sure to place your rain barrel on a strong, sturdy, and flat base.
How to use harvested rainwater
Rainwater can be used in your garden or to clean but is not recommended for consumption as it can contain germs and other contaminants.
“Rain can wash different types of contaminants into the water you collect (for example, bird poop on your roof could end up in your water barrel or tank). Rainwater can carry bacteria, parasites, viruses, and chemicals that could make you sick, and it has been linked to disease outbreaks,” the CDC states on its rainwater collection information site.
There are safe and unsafe ways to use rainwater, according to the CDC:
▪ Use rainwater only for watering plants that you will not consume
▪ Use rainwater for washing items that are not used for cooking or eating
▪ Do not use rainwater for cooking, drinking or brushing your teeth, instead use tap or bottled water.
This story was originally published May 19, 2022 at 2:21 PM with the headline "Looking to take advantage of all this Washington rain? Here’s how to set up a rain barrel."
