Rain barrels installed - 2024 06 10

 


We installed the rain barrel issued from the City last fall. It has been collecting rainwater from the shed roof and the awning. It is 75 gallon capacity and fills quickly during a rainfall.

Yesterday we finished installing three 80 gallon rain barrels purchased from Barr Plastics. We are now able to store over 300 gallons of water on site from rainwater collection.

According to my calculations based on 1" of water per sq ft of garden per week, 300 gallons of storage capacity should be able to support 100 sq ft of garden for one month. Based on rainfall patterns here in Vancouver, it is reasonable that we should expect to be able to fill these rain barrels once per month, even during drought months.

Last night when it started raining, I could hear the trickle of rain water outside my bedroom window as the empty barrel started to fill with water. The sound lulled me back to contented sleep.

Calculations:

4' x 4' = 16 sq ft garden bed needs approx 10 gallons of water per week

calculated at .62 gallons per sq ft (1" of water per week)

over 18 weeks - Jun 1 to Sep 28 - 180 gallons of water, 45 gal per month

according to my calculations, we should be able to fill these rain barrels at least once a month throughout the drought period

we would be able to collect 300 gallons per month

240 + 75 = 315

300 gallons per month would support 6 x 4' x 4' garden beds - 96 sq ft of garden bed - 100 sq ft garden bed

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