I would like to collect water from my roof during a rainstorm and use it to water my garden. I have been looking at rain barrels to locate at the base of my gutter downspouts to collect the water. They have a spigot at the bottom for a gravity fed water supply. My concern is how do I keep the water fresh and free of becoming a mosquito breeding ground? Wouldn't the stagnant water also cause mold and eventually a horrible smell?Please share your experience using rain barrels. Thank you.
You keep them covered, leaving only enough room for the water to enter. Without sunlight on the water, your algae growth is very, very slow. Yeah, every once in awhile, like once a summer, you may need to wash out the basin with diluted chlorine bleach.
