Rain Catcher Barrel - Review

...you are one of the growing number of environmentally caring people who realize that every time it rains, we're throwing water, energy and money down the drain.

More water is wasted in the world than energy, and it's a shame, because collecting rain water is easy, it's healthy... and it is an important aspect of sustainable living.

A rain catcher barrel is a simple concept - it catches rain water that's fallen onto your roof, into the gutters and through the downspout, and stores it for a variety of cost-saving uses. Rain water is free and it can be used to flush your toilets, water your gardens and indoor plants, wash your car and the outside of your house. With a little extra investment (and treatment) rain water can be used for showering, for washing clothes and even drinking.

An average rain barrel can save a household around 1300 gallons of water in three months. When you understand that it takes up to 13 gallons a day per person for basic human needs, and the average western citizen's current lifestyle demands at least 50 gallons a day, you can see why water supplies are increasingly under severe stress.

It's not all about money! Collecting your own rain water can give you the same sense of rightness and pleasure as picking your own fruit from a tree, or growing your own vegetables.

Here's some more "personal" advantages to not wasting rain:

• By collecting, storing and using water where it falls you are contributing to the wise management of the water reserves of this planet;
• You create your own reserve of the most precious resource on earth;
• Rain water really is a viable alternative to municipal water supplies, which contain chlorine and other "cleansing" substances;
• Your plants will grow and flower and fruit better with natural rain water;
• Rain water can be made safe to drink. And when it is, it tastes good!

There are many many different designs, sizes, colors and shapes of rain barrels on the market, and choosing is a matter of deciding what's best for your needs, your wishes and your taste.

I'm not even going to begin to review all the models available on Amazon, because most of them look like plastic monstrosities best hidden behind the cow-shed. Not everyone has a cow-shed to hide a rain barrel behind, so I personally feel that function should go hand in hand with aesthetics - meaning a rain catcher barrel should not just catch rain... it should look nice!

Fortunately, there are some very nice looking rain barrels to buy, and the best, to my mind, I've listed below.

Starting with my personal favorite.

This gorgeous, elegant urn-shaped model looks great anywhere, and is a perfect eye-catcher for front or back gardens, patios, balconies, yards... wherever!

It's made of roto moulded plastic, which is extremely durable, and won't fade, chip or crack, even under extreme temperatures. The functionality is therefore assured. Users praise its easy assembly; its strength; its high quality (Canadian made); its light weight when empty; and its 65 gallon capacity.

But what really makes it stand out is the (removable) crown planter - a dish on the top that you can furnish with Fuschia, Strawberries, ivy or any other elegant hanging plant to have draping down the sides. This will really accentuate the realistic terra-cotta color and texture of this very popular, 46inch high, rain catcher barrel.

This is the baby-sister of the Cascata.

It's only 33inches tall and holds 50 gallons. But it has in all aspects the same features, construction and aesthetic style benefits as the Cascata.

Previous buyer's comments have mostly favored the sturdiness and steadiness of the Aqua model and praised its timeless looks. A practical benefit of this model is that the drainage spout is right at the bottom which makes it easier to completely drain.

Again, the set-up is easy; and with some lustrous plant bedded in the crown planter, this small and handy rain catcher barrel will be a beautiful touch of style to enhance your sanctuary of green (Hide the hose though!).

My last choice is this unique rain catcher barrel from Koolatron which combines the contemporary elegance of authentic stone with the enduring longevity of UV resistant plastic.

You can place this out in the open or under a downspout to catch rain and runoff and it will withstand years of sun and cold.

The convincing sandstone finish blends well with a rock garden, a patio garden or in front of the home, blending superbly with surrounding plants as a rustic, decorative eye-catcher. There's no way this will ever be seen as another trashcan under the downspout.

It's easy to install, easy to use, and the thick legged base ensures optimal balance for stability, so there's no danger of it being blown over even when it's empty. The screen guard keeps all rough debris and leaves out of the barrel, and the drain plug is well situated for easy cleaning when fine debris builds up in the bottom.

18 pounds holding 55 gallons,and 35inches tall, this rain catcher barrel is a great deal... Amazon's price being the lowest around.

One of the only complaints has been about the spatting on the top lid - this is however of little importance in a rain storm, and it could anyway be combined with a "Rain Chain" for a gentler capture of rain-drops.

Don't let a rain catcher barrel be your only positive statement for the environment - there's so much more to become involved with in the area of rain water harvesting.

Amazon stocks a number of exciting books on the subject, of which a premium selection is shown below.

If you're fortunate enough to have a decent sized yard or garden, the rain can become a great friend - and you can be a friend of the rain.

I was flipping through Hubpages to find some "extra reading" on the subject of rain water collection, and stumbled on this "gem" of a "true life" story from fellow Hubber Veganite.

This tale really cuts through to the essence of rain-water conservation, in a way no advertising text could ever parallel. In his closing words Veganite tells us: "There are no endless supplies or guarantees of water. We have it only by the generosity of nature and as we know, sometimes nature has a mind of its own."

Read the rest here: The Joys Of Catching Rainwater

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