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Harvesting rain can pay off big

Setup up a cistern and water your yard for free

(Updated: Thursday, February 12, 2009, 4:03 PM)

Showers certainly may bring flowers, but they can also bring something valuable for many homeowners -- an easy and inexpensive way to offset water bills and eco footprints while keeping your landscape green.

A rain barrel harvests rainwater that flows off of your roof and through your home's downspouts. The amount of water that can be collected is astounding. A 1,000 square-foot roof feeding a downspout can produce up to 600 gallons of collected rainwater from a one-inch rainfall. That's enough water to fill an average hot tub.

Harvesting rainwater is a viable option if you're looking to save money and reduce your eco-footprint. Collected water can be used to water plants and lawns, which is a boon if you're a gardening enthusiast. In addition, collected rainwater is naturally low in sodium and chlorine, making it a healthier option for plants. Rainwater can also be used to wash your car or take care of minor clean-up tasks outside of the home. It can't be used for drinking unless it's treated.

The money saved by using rainwater instead of water purchased from a water company or even pumped from your own well can quickly add up.

You can set up your own system. At its most simple, all you need are containers for the water, an inflow arrangement to get the water out of the downspouts and an outflow arrangement to get the saved water to the yard. A tight-fitting lid is a must, to keep critters and debris out. An overflow system is a good idea.

Numerous websites have directions on the do-it-yourself systems. One is by King County, Wash., www.kingcounty.gov/environmental/stewardship/nw-yard-and-garden/rain-barrels.aspx. This one has detailed drawings and links to other sites. Enter "rain barrel" into any search engine such as Google and you'll come up with many options.

Another way to go is to purchase a system. You'll also find many of those online. One is Fiskars.

Many people are interested in harvesting rainwater but think a collection barrel could be an unattractive option in their yard. Others worry about overflow and potential water damage to their home. Fiskars has developed a series of rainwater harvesting systems that offer peace of mind and aesthetic appeal for the landscape.

These smart rain barrels by design feature a design with what the company calls a worry-free downspout connector. The downspout connector kit allows rainwater to flow from the downspout into the barrel. Once the rain barrel is full, the water is diverted automatically back down the downspout away from the home's foundation as it is meant to -- no risk of overflow.

The rain barrels rest flush up against your home in neutral colors that blend seamlessly with the landscape and most home exteriors. A threaded spigot located on the front of the barrels is at the perfect height to easily fill a standard watering can or connect a garden or soaker hose.

For more information on Fiskars Rainwater Harvesting Systems, visit www.rain-barrel.com.