Rain Barrells worth it?

[Mrs.B]

We've been discussing getting a rain barrell for awhile. But what we found was that we have an asphalt roof, and according to a book I have it stated that if you have an asphalt roof or if you put moss be gone on your roof (we live in PNW) the only thing you can use the rain barrell water for is shrubs. Nothing that is edible.
Does anyone here have one? and do you agree with this recommendation?
Mrs. B

[Gina]

I do not have official rain barrels, but I occasionally use standard Rubbermaid garbage cans for collecting rain water. They are strong enough.

My system is rather primative - I cut off a metal downspout from the rain gutters about half way down the wall, and attached a flexible black large tubing section (4" diameter) and can move the end of that from can to can as they fill. And they fill amazingly fast in a heavy rain. I use sprinking cans to put the water on my plants, or I divert it into the small fish pond. I would prefer to collect the water closer to my garden, but I can't without major modifications.

I don't believe my roof substance is an issue and can't address your situation. Mine is some form of fake shake and has been there about 20 years. I do not collect water until after the first significant rain however.

[puglogic]

I would not personally use that water on any edibles, no......but that's a personal choice I make (we also don't use toxic house cleaning chemicals, or soaps/shampoos/cosmetics with unpronounceable chemical names). Most moss killers are ferrous sulfate, but some are more toxic chemicals that I personally wouldn't want to end up as part of the cell structure of my fruits & veggies. I know they say that rainwater is probably contaminated before it ever hits the roof, but I don't believe in adding insult to injury, myself. In the PNW, it seems like a rain barrel wouldn't save you too much money anyway, would it? As much precipitation as you get?

[Gizmo]

I would not personally use that water on any edibles, no......but that's a personal choice I make (we also don't use toxic house cleaning chemicals, or soaps/shampoos/cosmetics with unpronounceable chemical names). Most moss killers are ferrous sulfate, but some are more toxic chemicals that I personally wouldn't want to end up as part of the cell structure of my fruits & veggies. I know they say that rainwater is probably contaminated before it ever hits the roof, but I don't believe in adding insult to injury, myself. In the PNW, it seems like a rain barrel wouldn't save you too much money anyway, would it? As much precipitation as you get?

No, it would save a lot - water out here is EXPENSIVE! I moved here from Utah, and the water bill for my 8 unit condo building in Salt Lake City (approx 30 people) was less than our current water bill for 2 people in a stand alone house in Seattle!

[Gina]

Water is expensive here in SoCal too. Or at least I think so. Saving water in rain barrrels doesn't help too much because I use so much in the garden. But I want the ability and the practice of collecting it 'just in cast'. In the house water is greatly conserved so I'll feel more free to use it outside.

[redfox]

Hmmm... we've been using our rain barrel rain from a composite roof on our edibles, but mostly for our containers plantings, which are all ornamental. I appreciate you sharing this, and am going to do a bit of research about this.

[Mrs-M]

Now this in one for Kib! Lately I've been pondering the idea of a rain barrel (or two). I love the idea of it. Great thread topic Mrs.B! I'll be following this one.

[fidgiegirl]

I'd probably agree, too, but when I think about it, we probably do use it for our few edibles! When we need the water, it's nice to know it didn't go down the drain. We didn't get ours to save money on water but rather to keep that runoff out of the rivers. We live by two storm drains and it bothers me to see all the water going down the tubes. Some could be diverted into rain gardens but we do our (very) little part with rain barrels. We use on everything.

[cdttmm]

We researched this extensively as we wanted to do some type of rainwater catchment system. But, if you have asphalt shingles you should not use the water on edibles, only ornamentals. Alas, we have asphalt shingles, so that ruled out using any captured rainwater on our vegetable gardens, which is where we were intending to use it.

[Mrs.B]

That was really our intention to use the water on our garden, but after that bit of news we're trying to decide if it's really worth it. We have no real shrubs?? the rest of our garden is on a drip system, and our small amount of lawn has a sprinkler system. When we lived in the SW we had a tile roof, and we were going to add gutters and a barrel, but moved first. I'm liking the Rubber maid garbage can idea, maybe we could use the water for a water feature heheheh.
Thanks for all your thoughts
Mrs.B