Rain Barrel-A/C Water Conservation

1. Rain Barrel-A/C Water Conservation With Master Gardeners & N.W.F Habitat Stewards Ann Poe & Art Constantino artcons@bellsouth.net

2. What is a Rain Barrel? Our homemade drum style rain barrel A vessel used to store rainwater

3. More Rain barrels Other types of storage vessels Web purchased Mona & Walter Johnston M.E. DePalma Web purchased Web purchased Mona & Walter Johnston

4. 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

5. How Much Water Can I Collect? • 1" rain = 600 gal of water per 1000 sq feet of roof • Art’s half roof = 432 sq ft or 259 gallons per 1” • 4 - 55 gallon drums = 220 gallon storage • Collects more water than he can store

6. 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

7. 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

8. 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

9. Filter Feature of Our Rain Barrel • Use small pool skimmer filter • Filter roof and gutter debris • Keeps out bugs-mosquitoes • Holds flexible downspout firm

10. 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

11. 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

12. 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 Shown upside down • Overflow on last barrel

13. You Don’t 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

14. 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.

15. 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.

16. Yard art can be used in “deed restrictive” areas 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

17. 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

18. 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 Youhave 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

19. Using Gravity Fed A/C water? This is a type of gravity fed A/C water system • Most storage vesselburied • Near A/C water discharge • A/C water piped into vessel • Small pump installed inside • Pump water to larger vessel • A/C on…barrel is refilling Saving water without rain Courtesy Mona & Walter Johnston

20. Using Pump Fed A/C Water? This is a type of pump fed A/C water system • Storage vesselelevated • Barrel can be further away • Pump not needed in barrel • A/C on…barrel is refilling • Clear tubing easy to use Saving water without rain October Rose, Hibiscusradiatus 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.

21. 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

22. 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/

23. 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

24. 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

25. 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

26. Where to Get Parts Shown • Home Depot & Lowe’s 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.