Arlington is hosting a build your own rain barrel workshop in Fairlington on Dec. 4, where for $50 you'll be provided supplies and know how to build your own rain collection system. I believe that this program is open to Northern Va. residents of Fairfax and other jurisdictions aside from Arlington, since it's funded by the larger soil and water conservation district encompassing multiple jurisdictions.
http://www.arlingtonenvironment.org/barrel.htm#register
I'm interested for a couple of reasons, most importantly to setup a system for mixing in some softer rain water into my tanks on occasion. I didn't see a thread on the topic, but would be interested in hearing from folks who are doing this. Issues I'm considering include....
Gravity feed vs. using a pump
Toggling between irrigating nearby gardens vs. water for aquaria
Filtration of collected water
Purity of rain water, ie impact of airborne pollutants, if any.
Skeeter control
Anything else I'm leaving out?
Anybody have some experience they are willing to share?[/list]
Rain barrel build-your-own workshop Dec 4
My town sells them to town residents for $20, and I'm pretty sure they have an out-of-towner rate as well. I want to say it is like $60-$70 bucks for out of town folks.
I use it to water my lawn, ut it'd be very simple to drop the water into a bucket, or even feed it down a line by dropping a powerhead through the upper vent and then turning it on.
I could look it up for folks if they are interested, here are the rain barrels they supply:
http://www.carr.org/mtairy/Documents/20 ... ctions.pdf
I use it to water my lawn, ut it'd be very simple to drop the water into a bucket, or even feed it down a line by dropping a powerhead through the upper vent and then turning it on.
I could look it up for folks if they are interested, here are the rain barrels they supply:
http://www.carr.org/mtairy/Documents/20 ... ctions.pdf
Dave
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sherrymitchell
- Posts: 226
- Joined: Mon Nov 24, 2003 3:12 am
- Location: Northern Virginia
Wow, that's a nice barrel set up ingg. It's important to winterize the barrel before freezing weather. I forgot one year and that was it for my barrel. 
Our barrel was simpler than the one shown. We just had a round screen top for it and there were no mosquitoes. You can buy it at Gardeners Supply, but it's more than $60 or $70. I'm thinking about doing it again to harvest rain water for one of the fish tanks where I need a lower pH. We installed a hose faucet thing at the bottom of the barrel and it was easy to just fill up the watering can or buckets from that faucet. They do fill up fast during a major rain storm, so be sure you use the water up after a storm, so you have capacity for more rain water or else it will just overflow.
Our barrel was simpler than the one shown. We just had a round screen top for it and there were no mosquitoes. You can buy it at Gardeners Supply, but it's more than $60 or $70. I'm thinking about doing it again to harvest rain water for one of the fish tanks where I need a lower pH. We installed a hose faucet thing at the bottom of the barrel and it was easy to just fill up the watering can or buckets from that faucet. They do fill up fast during a major rain storm, so be sure you use the water up after a storm, so you have capacity for more rain water or else it will just overflow.
Sherry
Sherry, I would put one of those overflow valves on the gutter, so once it backs up it will flow out through the valve and bypass the already full barrel.
One problem, most of the gardens I'd want to water are in the front of the house, and we want to hide the barrel in the back out of sight, so I'll probaby just drain it off into some not so important garden areas periodically. My wife would like to use it for watering her plants on our rear deck, but that's elevated above where the rain barrel would be, hence the interest in a pump potentially.
One problem, most of the gardens I'd want to water are in the front of the house, and we want to hide the barrel in the back out of sight, so I'll probaby just drain it off into some not so important garden areas periodically. My wife would like to use it for watering her plants on our rear deck, but that's elevated above where the rain barrel would be, hence the interest in a pump potentially.
T. Moran
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Rick Dotson
- Posts: 406
- Joined: Mon Nov 24, 2003 3:43 am
- Location: United States
I used to use a rain barrel but then got an RO system. RO is not very environmental friendly as it take 4x the amount of waste water to make every gallon of RO water. So I don't use the RO as much as I use to.
Rain barrels make great green water and mosquitoes collectors if you don't keep the net tight to the top.
Looks like an interesting workshop.
Rain barrels make great green water and mosquitoes collectors if you don't keep the net tight to the top.
Looks like an interesting workshop.
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sherrymitchell
- Posts: 226
- Joined: Mon Nov 24, 2003 3:12 am
- Location: Northern Virginia
My guppies grew beautifully this year outside in the garden.