Outdoor watering is the largest use of water in the summertime for residents. And as drought conditions become more frequent, engineering creative ways to reduce our water consumption outside is essential.

One method, rainwater collection, has recently become a popular source of supplemental water for gardeners.

Ryan Vitale, a home grower in Port Angeles, has been using rain barrels to water his quarter acre landscape for the past two years. Vitale has three 55-gallon plastic barrels connected to his home’s downspouts.

“I believe I’ve used around 300 gallons of rainwater to water my garden this year” Vitale said. “I hope by next year if I can store more water during the winter, I can water my whole landscape on rainwater alone.”

Using a rain barrel is a low-cost option for managing water that would otherwise runoff into a storm drain. Rain barrels can be found at most hardware stores, recycling centers or refurbished ones online through platforms such as Facebook Marketplace, Buy Nothing or Craigslist.

“Installation overall felt really easy to DIY at home,” Vitale said. “There are kits you can buy online for conversion of plastic barrels. The reused plastic barrels [are] really worth it. They are cheap enough to reduce upfront costs and save you water over time.”

Rainwater collection barrels are a great way to reduce water use from irrigation sources. Vitale also uses them to naturally warm his greenhouse, a convenient benefit of water’s thermal mass properties.

Large barrels of water in a greenhouse help regulate temperature and maximize heat absorption during the day. That heat then releases at night, ensuring a more stable temperature for plants.

Some research also suggests watering with rainwater is healthier for plants. Traces of nitrate in rainwater can boost plant growth and rainwater often is less alkaline and contains fewer salts than tap or well water.

In Washington state, you may use water collected from your roof for your outdoor space without a water-rights permit. The only regulations in place are if rainwater is being used as a drinking water source, which is not recommended.

If you want to learn more, check out the Department of Ecology’s website (ecology.wa.gov/water-shorelines/water-supply/water-recovery-solutions/rainwater-collection) for further information and regulations about rainwater collection in the state.

Barrel basics

Vitale has found very little drawbacks since installing his rain barrels. If you want to minimize leaks, he suggests investing in a sealant for your spigot.

Stored rainwater does contain some organic matter. If you are concerned about algae growth, consider cleaning out your gutters and barrels once every year or so and storing it in a shady area of your yard. With a bit of creative engineering, rainwater collection can help keep your garden green and reduce your public water use.

“My goal is to be able to store up to 600 gallons of water at a time — I think that would be plenty to get you through any drought in the summertime” Vitale said.

He highly recommends other growers to consider rainwater collection: “I love it. I like filling up the buckets to carry water to the garden. It feels faster in some sense, because you can put [water] directly where you need it. I love being out in my garden with my plants.”

Interested in learning more about rainwater collection? Come out a presentation by Northwest Rain Solutions from 6:30-8:30 p.m. on Thursday, Oct. 17, at the Port Angeles Library, 2210 S. Peabody St. Check out our website (extension.wsu.edu/clallam/water-conservation) for more outdoor water saving tips, resources about the drought, information about local water management efforts, water conservation events and more.

Already reducing your water use? Send us an email to share your water conservation tips and potentially be featured in a future issue!

Sammi Grieger is the water conservation coordinator at the WSU Clallam County Extension Office in Port Angeles. Contact her at samantha.grieger@wsu.edu.