Thursday, July 16, 2009

GREEN LIGHT: go and take action

When It Rains
During dry months, 40 percent of the average household's water consumption goes to outdoor watering.

What Can You Do?
Rather than needlessly draining that water out of the faucet, gather rainfall in a rain barrel connected to the gutter system—and use it to keep the lawn and garden green. Just an inch of rainfall on a 1,000-square-foot roof will accumulate over 600 gallons of fresh water. When picking out a barrel, here are a couple things to look for:
Choose a model topped with a mesh screen that will keep debris out of the barrel and a lid that prevents mosquitoes from using the water as a breeding ground when it's not raining.
Look for a barrel equipped with a side spigot where a hose can be attached and watering cans can be easily filled
Also, most rain barrels can hold up to sixty gallons of water, so make sure it's parked on a strong and steady surface.

1 comment:

  1. Each spring, Moorhead Community Education offers classes in which you are given the components to and get to make your own rain barrel!