10 Ways to Use Rainwater
You've committed to helping the environment by collecting rainwater. You've installed rain gutters, refashioned downspouts, and redirected water flow into rain barrels around your house. You've put in a lot of time and effort to keep your rain barrels clean and your water recapturing system running smoothly and efficiently.
So what are you going to do with all that water you've collected? Here are ten innovative ways to utilize recaptured rainwater for everyday usage:
- Water your lawn and landscaping. When it rains, your green spaces get all the water they need. But during the dry season, you can use the stored-up rainwater to quench your thirsty lawn, shrubs, bushes, and flower beds. Just hook up a hose to your rain barrel and start spraying!
- Water your garden. A barrel or two of rainwater can provide all of the liquid nourishment for your vegetable or flower garden. You can also load up your rain barrel and take it to your nearby community garden for use there.
- Water your plants. Imagine having a ready source of water for all of your outdoor and indoor potted plants—without turning on the faucet! Your plants will thank you.
- Fill your birdbath. During the summer, birds will need to bathe even in times of scarce rainfall. Luckily, you can draw a bath for your feathered friends anytime with rainwater caught from your gutter downspouts!
- Fill your toilet. It's easier than you think to route the captured rainwater from your rain barrel into the pipe behind your toilet. You don't need a pump if the rain barrel is a few feet higher than the level of your toilet—so this setup is ideal for basement or first-floor commodes. (You can also install a valve behind the toilet that allows you to switch water flow back to your main plumbing system if you run out of rainwater.)
- Mop your floors. It's just as easy to fill your bucket with water from your rain barrel as it is from your kitchen or bathroom faucet. If you keep your rain barrel covered and properly maintained, the water will always be clean enough for mopping.
- Wash your car. Here's a way to actually improve your car's appearance with rainwater! Just connect your hose to a rain barrel, run it out to the driveway, and wet down your car before and after soaping it up.
- Mix it with antifreeze. Whenever you need to put coolant or antifreeze into your car, dilute the solution with captured rainwater. After all, every little bit of water conservation helps.
- Wash off mud. After a day of working in the yard, use captured rainwater to rinse off muddy shoes, boots, tools, and hands. Don't rinse these items directly in your rain barrel; either use a hose connected to the barrel or fill a bucket or basin with water from the barrel.
- Cool off your kids. Hey, children who want to frolic in sprinklers don't really care where the water comes from! With the hose from your rain barrel, you can fill up wading pools, power sprinkler toys, or just give your kids a cool, thorough soaking!
Aside from drinking it, captured rainwater can be used for a wide variety of tasks and purposes. Mother Nature supplies the water—all you have to do is supply the creativity!
