Rain Barrel-A/C Water Conservation

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Rain Barrel-A/C Water Conservation
With Master Gardeners N.W.F Habitat Stewards
Ann Poe Art Constantino
artcons_at_bellsouth.net
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What is a Rain Barrel?
Our homemade drum style rain barrel
A vessel used to store rainwater
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More Rain barrels
Other types of storage vessels
Web purchased
Mona Walter Johnston
M.E. DePalma
Web purchased
Web purchased
Mona Walter Johnston
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Advantages of Using Rain Barrels

• Helps supplement irrigation

• Reduces storm water runoff

• Directs irrigation to reduce water waste

• Acidic rain water aids our alkaline soil

• You doing your part to conserve water

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How Much Water Can I Collect?

• 1" rain 600 gal of water per 1000 sq feet of
  roof

• Arts half roof 432 sq ft or 259 gallons per 1

• 4 - 55 gallon drums 220 gallon storage

• Collects more water than he can store

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Rain Barrel Considerations

• Check community deed restrictions

• Vessels size shape for your water needs

• Use suitable vessel

• Keep independent from house plumbing or sprinkler

• locate in shade - close to the gutter usage

• Elevated sturdy frame minimum 15 high

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Food Grade vs. Non-food Grade
Food-grade containers are preferred by many but
water quality is not a concern when collecting
rain water watering lawns or gardens
Collected water is not for human consumption
How do I know if the barrel is safe?
Request a Material Data Safety Sheet from the
supplier of your used barrel. It states the
hazards of the material the container held
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Our Model Rain Barrel

• Non-food grade - used barrel

• After washing safe for use

• Heavy duty stable - opaque

• Water filter large overflow

• Lower or upper joining

• Move water without a pump

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Filter Feature of Our Rain Barrel

• Use small pool skimmer filter

• Filter roof and gutter debris

• Keeps out bugs-mosquitoes

• Holds flexible downspout firm

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Overflow Feature of Our Rain Barrel

• 1 ½ pipe removes water fast

• Pvc pipe is custom fit

• Easily moves water away from foundation to
  drainage area

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High Joining of Our Rain Barrel

• Connect two or more rain barrels via high joining

• High joining-easy to build

• Fill one barrel at a time

• Empty one barrel at a time

• Each barrel needs spigot

• Last barrel gets overflow

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Lower Joining of our rain barrel

• Connect two or more rain barrels via low joining

• More difficult to build

• Two people to move

• Built in 2" fittings

• Both barrels fill and empty together

• One spigot used

• Overflow on last barrel

Shown upside down
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You Dont Have a Gutter
A 10 foot section of gutter downspout can be
installed where needed.

• The cost is low

• Few tools used to do the job

• Medium difficulty

• Supply the most water

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You Are Limited Only by Your Imagination
You may not have seen the next ideas before. We
hope you will be inspired to try a few yourself.
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Using Rain Chains

• Difficult to install gutter downspout

• Use a rain chain to move water

• Easy to install

• Available in many styles prices

• Any vessel can be used to create yard art.

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Decorative Smaller Vessels

• Many sizes - styles - colors - shapes available

Built by Mona Walter Johnston

• Use rain chains to supply the water

• Use as many as you need

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A/C Discharge Water

• A/C water readily available year round including
  dry season when needed most

• 7 - 8 dry season days 55 gallons water

• Lots of water for very little effort

Saving water without rain
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Mechanics of A/C Discharge Water

• A/C units discharge water by gravity or pump

• Your A/C handler is near a outside wall

• No pump in or near drip pan

You have a gravity drain

• Your A/C handler in the central interior area

• A pump under or near the drip pan

• You have a pumped system

Both systems capture save A/C water
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Using Gravity Fed A/C water?
This is a type of gravity fed A/C water system

• Most storage vessel buried

• Near A/C water discharge

• A/C water piped into vessel

• Small pump installed inside

• Pump water to larger vessel

• A/C onbarrel is refilling

Saving water without rain
Courtesy Mona Walter Johnston
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Using Pump Fed A/C Water?
This is a type of pump fed A/C water system

• Storage vessel elevated

• Barrel can be further away

• Pump not needed in barrel

• A/C onbarrel is refilling

• Clear tubing easy to use

Saving water without rain
October Rose, Hibiscus radiatus
Gravity fed A/C discharge means the water from
your inside air handler will collect in a drip
pan and gravity will send it outside. It will be
coming out of your wall outside close to the
ground. To use it you will have to capture it
in a container below below the water outlet.
Once captured you can pump it to another vessel
or area.
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Supplying Water Features

• Rain Barrel A/C water can be used to

• Keep your pond, fountain or decorative urn filled

• Rain barrels or vessels can supply your water

• By pumping or using raised barrels or vessels

• Here is one example of how it can be done

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Decorative Urn Water Feature

• Purchased / homemade urn

• Run rigid or soft pipe from your water storage
  vessel to the back of the urn

• Connect pipe to fill valve

• From fill valve pipe into urn

• Install hose bib on front

• Urn becomes a rain barrel

This urn available 199. at
http//www.gardeners.com/Rain-Catcher-Urn/
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Fountain Water Feature

• Large bottom basin holding 5-6 gallons preferred

• Run rigid or soft pipe from your water storage to
  the back of the fountain

• Connect pipe to fill valve

• From fill valve pipe into basin

• Install hose bib on front-back

• Fountain is multi tasking

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Homemade Rain Barrels

• Two lower joining 55 gallon drums

• Inverted for stability

• With a filter hose bib

• Large overflow

• Hidden by bushes-tarp in deed restricted area

Photo barrels by Wain Barber
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Purchased Rain Barrel

• Purchased barrel online from Great American Rain
  Barrel

• Opaque - sturdy - filter overflow hose bib

• 100 recycled plastic

• Available in four colors

• Trouble free many years

M.E. DePalma Photo
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Where to Get Parts Shown

• Home Depot Lowes carry all the plumbing parts
  fixtures used here.

• For barrels check your yellow pages under
  drums-barrels new/used.

• The WWW is a great source to find commercial rain
  barrels, urns, rain chains, pumps, etc

Building Rain Barrel handouts are available.
We will be glad to answer your questions.