Rain Barrels Sprout Up in New Construction

A newly constructed home in Del Ray on E. Howell Avenue has something a little bit different than many newly built homes – it comes fully equipped with rain barrels. 

The house, at 306 E. Howell Ave. and built by Wakefield Homes, is on the market via McEnearney Realtors for $1.295 million for its five bedrooms, four full baths and one half-bath.

The home was listed June 3 and construction is just finishing up this month on the new home. A smaller, brick house that was vacant for months was razed to make way for the new, more than 3,400-square-foot single family home. 

To find out how to make your own rain barrels, check out the City of Alexandria’s podcast on its website. Additionally, in partnership with the Northern Virginia Rain Barrel program, residents can take a “make your own rain barrel workshop.”

The Environmental Protection Agency recently launched a campaign encouraging homeowners to install rain barrels this summer to conserve water and reduce storm water runoff. It even has a new exhibit of rain barrels in Philadelphia “The Art and Science of Rain Barrels" through Sept. 20 with the tag line “rain barrels don’t have to be boring.” 

The EPA also offers information on how to create and install rain barrels.