What are “rain barrels” ?

Throughout history mankind has collected rainwater and rain barrels have been used extensively for this purpose.

By taking advantage of access to unlimited amounts of rain which individuals can store, we are able to conserve both water and energy at home and reduce the costs and energy needed to treat and store it. The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency says for every inch of rainfall in L.A. 3.8 billion gallons of runoff drain to the ocean.

This is where rain barrels and cisterns come in. They are made of water-tight materials (usually plastic) and come in standard sizes from 55 gallons to thousands of gallons for residential cisterns.

When rainwater runs through our streets into storm drains it picks up pollutants before it arrives to the ocean endangering human and marine life. In October 2015 the Dep. Of Building and Safety started to require storm water containment systems as part of the pollution control measures required by City Municipal code for new development and construction that is more than 500 sq. f. of impervious area. Such actions help reduce municipal water consumption and help irrigate and provide numerous non-potable possibilities.

Benefits of Rain Barrels in Los Angeles, CA

By taking advantage of the natural slope of your roof along with rain gutters, downspouts and rain chains all that rain can be diverted into and stored in rain barrels. What can be easier than that? We can help save the oceans and the environment just by conserving the rainwater in our back yards.

In addition to looking nice in front of or next to your home, rain barrels in Los Angeles do have a host of benefits. Some of those benefits include:

• Reducing the amount of runoff and any runoff pollution.
• Ability to water soil and plants.
• Preventing erosion of the earth.
• Acting as a water source in a drought or when there are set watering restrictions.
• Reducing the amount of water you use in your home and thus reducing your water bill.
• Controlling the moisture found around the foundation of your residential or commercial property.

If you have any further questions about rain barrels and cisterns, feel free to contact us.