Rain barrel collecting water from a downspout. Photo credit: NVSWCD.
This has been the “summer of flooding,” CNN headlined on July 20, reporting, “Large parts of the U.S. have seen an unusually humid summer with record amounts of moisture in the air. When cold fronts and other weather systems come along, that moisture can get wrung out, squeezed like a water-laden sponge, yielding heavy and often highly localized downpours.”
While the Washington region has been baking in sauna-like conditions this summer, the area’s been soaked too off and on, with showers, downpours and humidity.
Rene Bourassa with the Interstate Commission on the Potomac River Basin reports that in mid-July rainfall is 3.8 inches above average for this time of the year.
Fairfax County’s resiliency plan says, “Fairfax County is already feeling the effects of climate change, including more severe storms, increased flooding and amplified extreme heat. Climate change is a threat multiplier, increasing the frequency and intensity of climate hazards and conditions.”
Dr. Edward Maibach recently told the Richmond Times-Dispatch, “Unfortunately, more intense rainstorms are the new normal in Virginia. Hotter temperatures lead to more evaporation, which means more moisture in the atmosphere, which increases the likelihood of more intense rainstorms.” Maibach is George Mason University’s Director of Climate Change Communication.
Capturing and Using the Rain
Some homeowners capture some of the rain by installing rain barrels under their home’s downspouts. While no one claims that residential rain barrels are the solution to the type of flooding seen recently, they have some merits.
Most rain barrels are made of plastic and range in size from 30 to 100 gallons, with the standard being around 55 gallons. They typically have a spigot for attaching a hose and an overflow hose to direct water away from a house’s foundation if the barrel fills up and the rain continues. One inch of rain on a 1,000-square-foot roof can yield 300 gallons of water, according to Gardeners Supply.
Why Have Rain Barrels?
If you capture water, you can use it. If you pay for your water according to how much you use, you can save money by using less water from the tap or faucet.
Water is a finite resource. Some estimate that as much as 40 percent of water use is for outdoor activities, like watering lawns. Capturing water can reduce stress on the county’s water supply for activities like watering plants, washing your car, cleaning household windows or other outdoor uses, especially during dry spells.
“Unlike treated water, which is ‘softened’ with dissolved minerals, rainwater is naturally soft. The water stored in your rain barrel is better than municipal water for washing your car and watering indoor or outdoor plants,” says the Northern Virginia Soil and Water Conservation District.
Rain flowing off roofs, streets and other impervious surfaces carries pollutants so retaining water can help keep some pollutants out of streams. Fairfax County’s assessments show that in 2024, 76 percent of the county's streams were in fair to very poor condition. “This indicates that many of our streams are impaired and lack biological diversity,” county studies show.
Surges of water rushing into streams can gouge out streambanks and their vegetation and send sediments into waterways. Rain barrels can help keep some water on-site and slow water rushing into streams.
Rain barrels have some limits. The water supply depends on rain and a rain barrel can only provide as much water as it can hold so water may not be available at all times. You can only safely use rainwater for outdoor use, without treating it. If heavy rain is predicted, you might want to remember to empty your rain barrel because it could overflow. And in prolonged cold, the water can freeze.
But remember, rainwater is free water and capturing it can help the environment.
Build-Your-Own Rain Barrel Workshop
Aug. 30; 2 to 4 p.m. at Green Acres Community Center, 4401 Sideburn Road, Fairfax. Registration required.
You can assemble your own rain barrel to take home and learn tips for care and maintenance. Registration is $55 per barrel and includes all materials and supplies needed. Register at https://nvswcdevents.myrec.com/info/products/default.aspx?CategoryID=100
Sponsors are Fairfax City/Environmental and Sustainability Division and the Northern Virginia Soil and Water Conservation District.
Only two rain barrels will fit in most vehicles. The rain barrels hold approximately 50 gallons. They are roughly 23 inches wide. They range from 41.25 inches to 43.75 inches tall.
More Tips on Stormwater Management
https://www.onlyrain.org/stormwater-management-resources
https://19january2021snapshot.epa.gov/soakuptherain/soak-rain-rain-barrels_.html