apartment therapy changing the world, one room at a time

I saw that picture and knew, without reading further, that it was taken in Dallas. Those Dallas ranches (I grew up in one) are quite distinctive. Interesting (unconfirmed) trivia -- my neighbor growing up claimed that the mottled red/pink/brown brick often used in those ranch houses came from old buildings in Chicago. And it does resemble the brick used for the "backside" facades of many Chicago buildings.

Hiring a contractor is probably optional for most people (if you've already got gutters). There are dozens of vendors that sell rain barrels online. We've used Aaron's a couple of times:

http://www.ne-design.net/

Very simple to install, made from barrels recycled from various industries, include a seal that keeps the tank from becoming a mosquito breeding ground, etc.

Note, though, that rain coming off roofs with asphalt shingles should not use the water for vegetable gardens, only landscaping and flower gardens. Those with metal roofs should be fine for any use (except for drinking water unless thoroughly filtered and treated via osmosis and uv).

I just installed two rain barrels on my property (from 55 gal food grade barrels that were pre-fitted with spigots) and I haven't had a good plan for overflow (it looks like Erin won't have that problem with her massive tank!) since I live in the midwest and it's the rainy season now.

In the southwest, people increasingly install huge metal culverts, set in a concrete base and gravity fed (see Water Harvesting site by Brad Lancaster). A friend just got six families together, researched the process, and then they all spend a weekend installing each other's systems, for about $400 in materials. Good for a desert place where the rain comes in downpours, tends to just run off the land in to sewers, and is guided away.