HARTWELL, GA - With the drought conditions in Georgia, quality and quantity of water has become a driving force in many of the programs offered by the Chestatee-Chattahoochee Resource Conservation and Development (RC&D) Council. With that in mind, the council has developed a rain barrel program known as the North Georgia Rainkeepers.

Rain barrels are containers or systems which collect and store rain water from rooftops for later use. A rain barrel is relatively simple and inexpensive to construct and can sit conveniently under any residential gutter down spout. Rain barrels can be used individually or linked in tandem to capture a greater volume of water. 

Rain barrels do more than catch rainwater. While collecting water from the downspout, these barrels also divert water from the municipal storm drain system, thus protecting our rivers and streams from runoff pollution. Use of rain barrels helps control moisture levels around the foundation of your home as well as providing oxygenated, un-chlorinated water, which is ideal for plants. The use of rain barrels is a practical way to conserve a vital natural resource. For every inch of rain that falls on a roof catchment area of 1,000 square feet, you can expect to collect approximately 600 gallons of rainwater.   

For more information or to purchase a rain barrel, contact the Chestatee-Chattahoochee RC&D Council at 706-894-1591.