Rain barrels and Prius paint

Outdoor water use by private parties (not businesses) is banned here, with few exceptions, and a quick check of carwashes is coming up with zip in terms of ones that do any recycling.

We have a few rain barrels up front where there are gutters, many large garbage cans out back, and put buckets out to catch rain off the unguttered roof.

So far this has served to keep vegetation alive, and to water plants in the green house, but we are now wondering how we could further filter and if needed treat (ph?) the rain barrel water (they already have screens to remove noticeable particles) for use in washing our cars.

We're getting enough rain right now that we can spare the water without depriving trees and shrubs. The barrels are full and the Prius is dirty.

 

Re: Drought,rain barrel water, and Prius

Thanks, will research it as soon as I find out what I need to do to the rainwater that will have to go in the two buckets you mention.

Although unlike Atlanta, our city has an excellent water use and return record, we still have to pay the price for Atlanta and its burbs sins and outdoor water use (from the city's supply) is strictly banned here .

So, till the ban is lifted, saved rainwater is the only way to go.

Thanks, though, I have made a note of ONR.

tante b

 

I'll call some more car washes tomorrow, that would surely ease the chore, although if rainwater was useable we'd be cleaning more often.

I'll double check, but I believe we are in an are that bans grey water use also, although we still, to some degree have done it prior to getting the barrels set up.

Thanks for the response.

tante b

 

Ok, that will help, now and when they lift the ban. Will order two.Thanks.

Still need to figure out if I need to do something to treat the, for instance Ph of the rainwater, or, if it is no worse as is than Joe Blow's car wash procedures.

Again, thanks.

tante

 

My concern as well, I guess one thing I should have done is tested the Ph. I don't really know what else (or how), to test for or to do.

The screening in use on the barrels is pretty fine, so the particles in the saved water are finer than those on the car from road debris.

Acid? As in acid rain??

I really do appreciate your's, and Godiva's responses...I might have sounded snippy but that was far from the intent.

tante