Winter Water Harvesting

As the holiday season takes a hold of us, the weather is getting colder and plants remain dormant, waiting for the springtime to continue their growth. Outdoor activity is limited, and outdoor plants require very little attention while in their hibernating states. With all that said, water harvesting is in low need. However, for those who want to continue catching the snow melt coming from the roof, it can continue to take place whether plants are being watered or not. Due to the size of our cisterns and water tanks, water can continue to be collected with ease and no risk of freezing and cracking of the tank. With our Santa Fe Rain Barrels, however, it is possible for them to freeze and crack. Many if not most people with our rain barrels in New Mexico do not empty their barrels in the winter. Do this at your own discretion, and know that WaterRite Systems is not responsible for any damage to your rain barrels if they are to freeze and crack. For those not wanting to empty their barrels over the winter, here some tips in order to minimize the chances of having to replace a cracked barrel due to freezing:

1. Try to have the barrels in a place that gets a good amount of sun. The South side of your home is the best place for this.

2. Check on them to see how much they are freezing. If the ice is getting really thick and you can't see through it or crack it, it might be best to empty the barrel.

3. Maintain them at a level that is not completely full so the water has room to expand as it freezes. This may help.

4. Leave the faucets at the bottom of the barrels a little bit open with a hose attached so that the water can run out and water a tree or plants rather than freezing.

Good luck with all of your winter water harvesting. We are still open for business throughout the winter. Please get in touch with us if you are interested in making a rain barrel or other purchase or if you have any questions. Stay Warm!

Reasons to Invest in a Water Harvesting System

Water harvesting systems are essential for the preservation of a clean and reliable water supply in places that are very dry like New Mexico.  For anyone with outdoor plants and gardens that need watering, rain barrels and cisterns are a practical investment that will not only save you water, but also save our water supply from being depleted.  Here are a few reasons to invest in a water harvesting system in Santa Fe, Albuquerque, and surrounding areas:

• Rain barrels and other water harvesting systems prevent erosion of the soil underneath canales
• A well thought out water harvesting system can allow for you to never have to use the tap to water outdoor plants again
• By having your own supply of water, limitations to outdoor watering during periods of drought will not affect how much you can water
• Having a water harvesting system at your home can save you a good percentage of the money you spend on your water bill each month
• A sustainable water harvesting system can be low in cost and easy to instal

I hope that you were able to see the logic in investing in a water harvesting system.  Please contact us for more information.

Water Harvesting Around the World

As the human population increases, the resources that our race is in need of to survive decrease, bringing ways to live sustainably into the forefront of our existence. As water is a key factor for the existence of life, access to it is of utmost importance, and people are beginning to realize that the more it is conserved and recycled, the more it will be around in the future. In Santa Fe, a large amount of the population in the city currently own rain barrels or some other form of water harvesting system. In other areas around the country and the world, similar solutions to the concern of water access are surfacing. In Dadaab, Kenya, women have begun to catch water during times of rain in order to water crops for food, and are fighting for the implementation of water harvesting structures to aid in their mission. In Pheonix, a relatively new convention center has both solar panels and a water harvesting garden, and the rise in water prices in India has been pushing the farming community to find an alternative to expensive irrigation systems.

Much of the world is beginning to see the importance of water conservation, much of this due to being forced to find a more sustainable alternative due to current conditions. After seeing how it could be without water, I wonder whether more of the population will choose water conservation before their plants begin to die and washing the car is unheard of.

Let's get started early! Water harvesting systems are easy to install and use, and can eliminate the cost of watering outdoor plants. Rain barrels, cisterns, tanks, and totes are some of the water harvesting systems that Santa Fe Rain Barrels currently offers. Don't wait until your plants are wilting!

Please contact us for more information.

Years of Water Catchment

After ten years selling rain barrels, we have come a very long way in the water catchment business. Our methods have improved extensively since my dad first began the endeavor, and we have steadily developed from our days vending "food storage" barrels behind our house. We now have a storage yard where we keep the barrels as well as the large cisterns and square, 275 gallon totes that have been growing in popularity. We also sell a number of different fittings and connections which make water harvesting in New Mexico a much easier and more practical investment. Our storage yard in Santa Fe is always stocked with barrels of both sizes (50 and 60 gallons), and all available colors; terra cotta, brown, gray, black, and blue.

Although the temperature is dropping as the days bring us closer to October, we are still open for business, and it is still an ideal time to get whatever water harvesting systems you need. We are currently selling at retail prices in Santa Fe while wholesaling to various different stores and nurseries in Santa Fe and Albuquerque. Come catch the rain before it turns into snow!

Water Conservation in the Southwest Desert

Although it may not hit you with the water that comes out of the sink at the turn of a nob and the many green parks and lush yards that scatter our cities, the American Southwest is a dry, arid desert. That's right my friends, if you live anywhere between Southern California and New Mexico, don't be fooled by the illusion of our seemingly water-sufficient climate. Californians have recently been coming to grips with the reality of the Southwest's unreliable water supply, and many think that this is only the beginning.

Although it may not seem like too big of a threat from the safety of our water-laden homes, this issue won't be going away any time soon. Water doesn't fall from the sky(at least very often) in the Southwest. In a recent article online, writer Alex Steffen describes the situation as being dry and getting dryer with almost no way out of it. The rivers have less water, the sky is not dropping enough water, and hotter years are predicted to be on the way.

So, is there anything we can do to help prevent the landscape of tumbleweeds and cactus from taking over our homes and communities? Can we continue to survive in this relatively harsh living environment?

Although nobody can be certain as to what will come to pass, there are things that we can all do to conserve water that go beyond the basics of quicker showers and more drought resistant plants(although these things play an important role as well). The concept is simple: when the water comes, catch it! I've seen people use anything from buckets to trash cans to, water troughs. As rain barrel distributors, we are catering to you. Together, we can insure that all homes have reliable water harvesting systems, so that we can continue to maintain our oasis' in the middle of the desert.

For more info, feel free to contact us.

Water Harvesting and Consciousness

Natural resources in today's world are becoming more and more precious. The amount of plants and animals on the planet slowly decreases as the number of humans increases, throwing the equilibrium of the whole planet off balance. As the human population continues to increase, our consciousness must also increase in order to maintain the balance of the planet. One good way to prevent anything serious from happening is to start taking 100% responsibility for our actions right now, and act consciously in everything we do, keeping in mind the possible negative, and hopefully positive affects that may be a result of everything we do. The human race has been too careless with this earth that we have been given, and the more of us that realize this, the more we can act in a way that supports the natural world around us. By setting this example, those around us will be more encouraged to work towards consciously resolving the problems that have come about through generations of acting unconsciously.

The first thing that we need to do in order to start moving in the right direction is to set our intention in the right place. If we want the world to be a better place, and are constantly thinking about it, we will naturally be more drawn to things that move us in that direction. The more our thoughts are aimed towards conservation, the more we will begin to live more sustainably. This isn't like a math problem which has a logical problem and solution. It is a matter of wanting to feel better, and for the people and world around us to do so as well. The happier and more at peace we are, the more our planet will also feel this vibration and continue to heal itself.

In this way, we should not conserve until it is natural for us to do so. We must first focus on our own well being, and as the quality of our lives increases we will naturally want to take better care of the earth that we live on. We welcome all those that are in a place of wanting to take better care of the earth to look into our water harvesting systems. We hope to play a part in establishing a world where the natural world is no longer threatened by our presence, and well being is the natural state.

Rain Barrels in and around Santa Fe

The rain barrel business, although many of you may know it as Santa Fe rain barrels, does not sell exclusively to the city of Santa Fe. As demand rises and people have more and more of a need for barrels and water harvesting systems, our range of sale grows further away from our home town. For some time now we have been wholesaling barrels to different locations in Albuquerque, as well as taking orders for tanks and cisterns.

Right now, all barrels being sold in Albuquerque offer a 25 dollar rebate on your water bill, no matter how many you buy. That means you can buy a few barrels, not pay almost anything on your water bill for some time, and not be using as much water after that. I know that it´s easy to think that the water will never stop flowing out of your faucet, but don´t get too attached to that notion! New Mexico is a very dry place, and the groundwater will not last forever, especially at the rate that we are using it up. The more we conserve, the less we will need to later, securing a future with a reliable source of water. There are many places in Albuquerque that are currently carrying our barrels. Osuna Nursery, Purple Sage Garden Center, Hacienda Home Supply, Plantworld, Plants of the Southwest, and CSA (Community Sponsored Agriculture) all buy wholesale orders of barrels, making it easier for us to sell and people in Albuquerque to buy our product.

Rainbarrels for Albuquerque and Santa Fe are available to everyone living in one of these cities as well as those who don´t! We also make various trips to Taos, Pecos, Los Alamos, and other nearby areas, as well as ship orders of barrels to Atlanta, Georgia. If you are interested in getting barrels, no matter where you´re from, all you need to do is contact us. The more people that need water catchment in other places, the more likely we will be to deliver barrels to that place.

I hope we can be of help in making the places around us more sustainable and water secure.

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Santa Fe Water Harvesting Systems

With the rise of temperatures and melting of ice, the rain barrel business is now back in full swing. We are now officially back in business, ready to accomodate any needs you have regarding Santa Fe water harvesting systems. Although my dad and I are currently away, Lukas Nash, my brother, will be in Santa Fe running the business. We hope that everyone had a great winter and that you are ready for the hotter months to come.