WATER-WISE GIVEAWAY!

This summer we’ll choose five lucky readers to each receive a set of water-wise tools from the DRAMM company. The set includes a watering wand, a 25-foot soaker hose and a ColorStorm Water Timer. Sign up for the giveaway at GGMagExtra.com.

Rainwater harvesting can be as simple as installing a rain barrel under a gutter coming off a roof. It can be expanded to include a cistern to handle overflow. The only thing that differs between the two is the scale of the system. They both follow the same principles. A large system just captures water from more than one source.

There are a variety of commercially available rain barrels in a wide range of sizes, shapes and styles. Most have a 100-gallon capacity, but larger versions (up to 500 gallons) are available. Look for one with an overflow valve (it kicks in when the barrel reaches capacity) and a mesh screen filter to keep out residue. Remember, a rain barrel will be outside during all sorts of weather, from baking sun to thundering rains to freezing ice and rain. Heavy duty molded plastics, such as resin, can withstand the elements and won’t crack, peel or rot.

Cisterns hold a higher volume of water and are a good choice for climates with infrequent rainfall. A house, garage and outbuildings can all feed into a single large (underground) cistern. Cisterns are, of course, more expensive, and keep in mind that the storage tanks must be placed next to the house, whether they are