With winter approaching, Southern Californians look forward to at least a few quenching rains. As we anticipate the season, rain barrels offer gardeners a convenient way to capture and save every drop of the precious resource. A well-placed fifty gallon rain barrel provides water for the garden and other outdoor uses. Two or three hours of rainfall can replenish a couple of rain barrels, so that water is ready for the next week's dry spell.

 

Harvesting rainwater was once prohibited by many states across the American West, but in 2012, California enacted the “Rainwater Capture Act.” Across the state, Californians can now legally capture and use rainwater harvested from their rooftops. Rain barrel water capture not only helps gardeners reduce their reliance on potable water for non household uses, it also helps us recharge underground aquifers through our watering practices.

 

Rain barrels are sold both at local nurseries and bog box stores, and come in a variety of styles. Barrels generally hold up to fifty gallons, and are easily connected to rain gutters using downspout connectors. Many commercial rain barrels come with connector kits, spigots and detachable hoses for easy watering. Rain barrels should always be lidded to prevent mosquito breeding, and drained when freezing temperatures come. SoCal WaterSmart website offers tips on how to place, and maintain rain barrels: http://socalwatersmart.com/images/PDFs/scws_rainbarrels.pdf

Many Southern California cities encourage the use of rain barrels, and some San Bernardino County water agencies offer rebates of up to $75. per rain barrel (up to two barrels per residence). SoCalWater Smart provides a link to rebate information by zip code: http://www.socalwatersmart.com/?page_id=2973

By Michele Martinez, Master Gardener, Arrowhead