Using rain barrels to collect rainwater is one way to fight water shortage and drought, as well as to keep water for when it is needed in drier weather. Usually rain barrels are placed under or attached to gutters and downspouts to collect rain that lands on rooftops. The rainwater that collects in rain barrels can pose problems if it is not handled carefully.
Insect-Borne Illness
According to researchers at North Carolina State University, uncovered rain barrels can be a source of insect-borne illness. Uncovered rain barrels provide perfect breeding grounds for mosquitoes, which can carry malaria, West Nile virus and other diseases. Covering rain barrels once the rain has stopped can help prevent mosquitoes and other insects that breed in water from spreading.
Legal Questions
In some U.S. states and localities, collecting water in rain barrels is illegal. For example, a 2009 Colorado Springs Gazette article discussed the legal status of rain barrels. Under Colorado law, rain barrels are illegal because water that collects in rain barrels does not flow into streams and rivers. Since people downstream have a legal right to use the water, water that does not enter the stream never reaches those who have a legal right to use it. Colorado law prescribes a $500 fine for rain barrel users.
Water Quality
Since water collected in rain barrels often reaches the barrel after running off another source such as a roof, the water may not be suitable for human consumption. According to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), if water in rain barrels is to be used by humans, the roof should not have cedar or asbestos shingles, the gutter system should be lead-free, and bird droppings should be regularly cleaned from the roof and gutters, as they may be a source of dangerous bacteria.
Freezing
In cold climates, any water left in a rain barrel system may freeze during the winter months. Since water expands as it freezes, the resulting ice may cause the rain barrel or the connected pipes to break. The U.S. EPA recommends disconnecting and draining a rain barrel system during freezing temperatures to prevent damage.
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