The League of Women Voters of Oak Park/River Forest decided to make a
scene with rain barrels in their Chicago neighborhood. They had artists paint 100, 55-gallon
kegs in eye-catching designs to draw attention to the water conservation method. They now line the city's streets and each
one is tagged with 40 water-saving tips so passers-by can learn more. Put a rain barrel on your roof, in your yard or attach one to a gutter and after the next rainfall, you'll have plenty of water collected for outdoor use. Just like drinking tap water is a bargain compared to bottled water, rain water is a budget- and eco-friendly way to water your lawn and garden and to wash your car. And since the barrels are equipped with spigots it's easy to do. Water conservationists have been applauding the environmental benefits of rain barrels all along, but they aren't in mainstream use yet.
If you're planning a trip to Chicago, check out the eco-chic rain barrels when you go. And if you have a bit of outdoor space in the city or if you have a beach or country house, consider buying one. Or, you could wait until next summer when the NYC DEP will likely resume their rain barrel giveaway program.
Great article, very informative and necessary for the conservation of our precious water. For over 60 years I have been involved in rainwater harvesting with the use of rain barrels & cisterns. My Victory Garden and bank account appreciate this savings in water usage.
I would like to suggest to your readers the importance of keeping rain gutters squeaky clean for the best results to prevent overflow damaging your home and clogged gutters slowing or causing rain water to drip not flow freely into rain barrels.
I invite all to come and visit me at www.gutterclutterbuster.com and see for themselves a better, cleaner, easier, and safer method of cleaning rain gutters while saving additional money while doing so.
Hope everyone follows your suggestions and ideas for purchasing rain barrels, the types available, and saving potable water in an eco-friendly manner.
Good luck to all and hope to see more artistic rain barrels in all neighborhoods.
I´ve been reading your blog for awhile and it never occurred to me to comment. Which is completely ironic, because I´ve spent a lot of time over the past few months studying what it takes to make people comment on my own website. After reading a couple of your posts I guess it´s controversial topics that stir people´s emotions to the point where they can´t just ´let it go.´
I just couldnt leave your website before saying that I really enjoyed the quality information you offer to your visitors... Will be back often to check up on new stuff you post!
awesome! i just bookmarked it :)
well that's something new to me