Personal

Using Rain Barrels Wisely

by Rich

I read recently that at least one residential community is considering penalizing homeowners for having too many rain barrels on their property, feeling that they detract from the neighborhood’s image. I see merits on both sides of the situation.

On one hand, with a drought that has lasted more than a year, and no signs that we are complete relief from it yet, as well as the water restrictions it entails, we should not discourage the use of these containers. Indeed, rain barrels are an affordable, convenient and environmentally friendly way to conserve precipitation.

The benefits of rain barrels are virtually endless. They let you water your lawn or garden at no expense versus water from a city system or even from a well. They reduce runoff from properties, a common source for collecting pesticides and other chemical hazards into the water stream. And of course they provide a ready resource for water needs in times of emergencies, such as power outages.

However, I understand the concerns about trying to have any rain barrels installed meet the guidelines for any homeowners association (HOA) or any architectural review board (ARB) for an HOA. There are several legitimate reasons an ARB or HOA may have in wanting to limit the number and style of the containers, both aesthetic and otherwise. For example, a rain barrel could obscure the address of a home, making it difficult to find it during an emergency, or it could block convenient access to and from the entrance, making it a safety hazard.

At Royal Oaks, we think homeowners should select earth tones for their barrels, and they should be installed and landscaped around in the most non-intrusive way. This process will meet most of the guidelines an ARB or HOA will have regarding rain barrels as opposed to say, a person who puts “hunter orange” rain barrels on each corner of the home because they really like the color orange neon, without thinking how visually distracting they can be to neighbors and visitors.

I would suggest that all Triangle ARBs and HOAs, along with homeowners in the communities, take a second look and set guidelines for use of rain barrels that make sense for everyone involved while keeping in mind the needs of homeowners during a drought. Once this process is completed, everyone who participated definitely will make their neighborhood a better place for everyone to live in the long run, both economically and environmentally.

Photo Credit: Town of Menasha Web site

Rich Van Tassel is President of Royal Oaks Building Group, LLC, a home building company founded in 2002 in Raleigh, North Carolina. During his first year in business with Royal Oaks, he built 38 homes with $6.8 million in total revenue. By 2006, Royal Oaks Building Group, LLC was listed by the Triangle Business Journal as the 18th largest builder by volume in the Raleigh-Durham and the 12th fastest growing, privately held company in the Triangle on the Fast 50 list, with 131 homes and $28.8 million in revenue. He resides in Apex, North Carolina.

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