5 Ways to Save Water When It Rains (No Rain Barrel Needed)

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5 Ways to Save Water When It Rains

1. Set out your houseplants.
 
Plants prefer rainwater to tap water, so they are sure to thank you if you set them outside during gentle rainfall. Anything too heavy can damage the plant, so only set your plants outside if light to medium rain is expected. If you have plants on a covered patio that are not too heavy to move, you can also set them out in the open to enjoy the rain.
 
2. Turn off automatic irrigation systems.
 
If you do not have a rain sensor that automatically turns off your irrigation system when it rains, make sure to turn it off manually when rain is expected.
 
3. Fill water bowls with the rain.
 
Take your pet’s water bowls from in the house or on covered patios and set them outside to fill them with rainwater. Keep in mind that contaminated rainwater can make your pets sick (or worse), so make sure the bowls are in an area where they will collect pure rainwater falling from the sky. Keep the bowls away from areas where they may collect runoff from your roof or other structures.
 
4. Collect water in buckets.
 
While runoff from your roof or canopies is not potable and should not be used for drinking or to irrigate food plants, it can be used for other purposes, such as rinsing recyclables or watering ornamental landscaping. So, if you do not have rain barrels or have some corners where gutters do not divert the water, set out buckets to capture the water in these areas. You can also set out buckets away from structures to capture pure rainwater to irrigate food plants.
 
5. Do your planting just before it rains.
 
Any time you plant seeds or transplant plants in your garden, they need a good watering. So, one easy way to save water when it rains is to hold off on your planting until the forecast calls for rain. This is a good time to reseed patchy lawns, plant new flowers or seeds, or transplant plants from your container garden into borders or garden beds. Just be sure that we are not expecting heavy rain, since this might wash your seeds away.

Find more ways to converse water;

10 Ways to Use Water from Rain Barrels

11 Ways to Save Water in Winter

10 Easy Ways to Save Water