Rain+Barrels+(Maggie+Moore)

**Rain Barrels!**

**What Are They?**


 * "A rain barrel collects and stores rainwater from rooftops to use later for lawn and garden watering. Water collected in a rain barrel would normally pour off your roof directly or flow through roof gutter downspouts and become stormwater runoff. Depending on your yard, this runoff can travel onto paved surfaces and eventually into a storm drain. " By using rain barrels you are harnising that water, conserving water and saving money!
 * Why Use Rain Barrels? **

media type="youtube" key="MGFDlkJOdaM" height="344" width="425"  The Video above explain how to easily build a rain barrel as well as describes many of the reason why rain barrels are effective and worth building.
 *  " Rain Barrels conserve water and help lower costs (a rain barrel can save approximatley 1,300 gallons of water during peak summer months)." (Gold M., Gold A., McCann A., Burdett H.)
 * "Rain Barrels reduce water pollution by reducing storm runoff, which can contain pollutants like sediment, oil, grease, bacteria, and nutrients." (Gold M., Gold A., McCann A., Burdett H.)
 * "Rain Barrles are inexpensive and easy to build and install." (Gold M., Gold A., McCann A., Burdett H.)

**What Problem Do Rain Barrels Help With?**


 * Rain Barrels help with conserving water, saving money on water bills, and helping streams and larger bodies of water stay polutant free.

When Are Rain Barrels Useful?  **
 * 
 * Rain Barrels are most effective and useful during spring and summer months when their are alot of rainy days. The more precipitation the Rain Barrel is able to collect the more successful it is at saving both money, and the environment.


 * What Nutrient Cycle Do Rain Barrels Relate to? **
 * Rain Barrels relate to the Water Cycle because they collect precipitation and allow that water to be harnesed for the purposes of water plants or cleaning a car, however, because Rain Barrels are collecting the precipitation they are preventing the water to run-off into a greater body of water as it useually would after the precipitation stage. This in no war effects the Water Cycle, it simply allows people to collect water that is falling from their gutters and useing it for a greater purpose while saving money.


 * Are Rain Barrels a Viable Soulution to Protect the Biosphere? **


 * "Reduced toxins in rivers. While rain is necessary for life, it can be bad for the environment. When it rains, the water that falls travels through our cities and streets before ending up on streams and creeks. As it flows, it collects chemicals, toxins, and other wastes. Routing some rainwater away from natural drainage reduces some of the tainted water that fouls up our rivers." (Palmetto Rain Barrels)
 * "Improved water efficiency. The greatest benefit you will see from utilizing a rain barrel is, of course, water usage. During the summer season a homeowner can spend as much as 40 percent of his or her monthly water bill on watering a lawn. As a result of water shortages, many communities are experiencing water supply problems, forcing water rationing. By catching rainwater, however, you can relive some of the burden on your city's water supply, as well as keep your garden and yard healthy and watered year round. " (Palmetto Rain Barrels)
 * "Energy efficiency. We hear more and more about how important it is to reduce our energy usage to protect the environment. However, many people do not think of using power when they use the city's water. When we use water directly from our pipes, that water must be cleaned, filtered, and pumped all the way to us. There are countless processes in water processing that use up energy and, unfortunately, harm the environment. " (Palmetto Rain Barrels)
 * "You can reduce your water usage by thousands of gallons and have plenty of water handy for plants and odd jobs simply by using a rain barrel. The only job rainwater can not fill is satisfying your thirst. Other than that, using a rain barrel is perfect for cleaning your Camaro, watering your camillas... and protecting the Earth." (Palmetto Rain Barrels)


 * What are the Possible Negative Effects of Rain Barrels on the Environment? **
 * Due to the fact that Rain Barrels are simply harnessing run-off water, they do not actually have any possible negative effects on the environment becuse they dont effect the Water Cycle, and they dont use any energy to run so they do not release any toxic chemicals into the environment,

**Links**
 * Rain Barrels (Liz Coerdt)

**Sources**
 * //Web Links//. (n.d.). Retrieved October 19, 2009, from [|http://www.palmettorainbarrels]
 * //Healthy Landscapes: Contacts//. (n.d.). Retrieved October 19, 2009, from []
 * //the City of Liberty Official Website!//. (n.d.). Retrieved October 19, 2009, from http://www.ci.liberty.mo.us/index.aspx?NID=1347
 * // YouTube - How to Build a Rain Barrel // . (n.d.). Retrieved October 19, 2009, from http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MGFDlkJOdaM