Rain City

On March 30, I bought a rain barrell (Authorized City of Seattle Rain Barrell--for yours, click here). It comes complete with mosquito screen and various drainage orifices. Having taken the day off, I installed it under a downspout at one corner of my house. The day was sunny and beautiful, a real t-shirt day. The previous day Seattle had experienced more than an inch of rain, so on the one hand I was glad that I didn't have to be miserable while setting it up; but on the other hand, I felt disappointed that I'd missed what might have been the one last heavy rain day. February has cast fear into the hearts of Seattleites, it was the driest February in a very long time. Our governor has already declared a drought; what will it be like in August? The mountain pass ski resorts were closing for lack of snow. Not just "lack"--read NO snow. It was like June.

Not to worry. In about a week, the passes received more than a foot of snow, and by Saturday, April 2 (two days after rain barrel was installed), the rain barrel was overflowing. I had to buy a second hose to attach to the overflow valve, sending the extra water into my flower garden, directing it away from the house. Now I understand why the basement floods when it rains hard. I will watch the ground on that side of the house, to see what effect the rain barrel has on the ground, if any. In the meantime, I have what seems like an endless supply of rain water for my garden (both contained as well as uncontained).



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