Aquabarrel LLC
Dedicated to supporting Water Conservation through the use of Rain Barrels.
What inspired you to start your business?
While watering the plants in my yard with the garden hose one day in 2005, my wife asked if I knew what a rain barrel was. To my dismay, I had to admit that I had no idea what she was asking about. She explained the concept. With my interest peaked, I spent many hours researching on the Internet. Finally I decided it was possible to make my own rain barrel. Following the traditional concepts of a rain barrel, I proudly made my own.
When the first thunderstorm came I was giddy with excitement as the traditional rain barrel began to fill. I never paid attention before to just how much water could accumulate during a rain storm. My excitement turned to shock as the barrel, now filled with rainwater, was overflowing out the top of the barrel, running down the sides and pooling at the foundation of our home.
Watching this soggy disaster unfold, convinced me that a few significant modifications were in order. Working with my original rain barrel quickly taught me the flaws in the traditional design. Typically the overflow is undersized. I found that a ratio of 50% of the volume incoming is a minimum size requirement for the overflow port. The garden hose was just not the correct size! Placing drains in the bottom with bulkhead fittings allowed for better and more complete darinage too! If the drains are too high on the sides of the barrel you needed to drain the barrel of the 2 or 3 inches of residual water or sludge in the bottom of the barrel, or open a mosquito harvesting business!
Every time I needed to water my yard with the traditional rain barrel, I was faced with challenges that left me saying. 'There's got to be a better way'. I built a number of rain barrels with an assortment of modifications and the rest is history.
What was your “green spark?”
Al Gore’s movie and regional water restrictions coinciding with my wife’s great timing of asking what I knew about rain barrels created the ‘Green Spark’ that ignited this business idea.
What are your goals for the future of your company?
Promoting Aquabarrel® is not only good for the environment, good for the local economy, but it also extends the life of an existing plastic barrel that was headed to the landfill or shredder. Our continued success and growth provides jobs and reduces infrastructure costs within the local storm water districts.
We plan to continue to bring new and innovative high quality environmental conservation solutions to the public.
If everyone did just one thing to preserve the environment, like collecting rain water for watering their plants and lawn, we believe we will extend our natural resources.
Correspondence address:
Aquabarrel LLC | 4884 McCall Road | Rincon, GA 31326