New products promote water conservation

By Sophia Markoulakis - Special to San Francisco Chronicle

Web Posted: 05/03/2009 12:00 CDT

The Drought Buster redirects rainwater to plants by attaching to the garden hose. The Drought Buster

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Smith & Hawken

Smith & Hawken's Collapsible Rain Barrel can hold 35 gallons.

SAN FRANCISCO — No matter how much rain falls before summer, one thing is for sure: water conservation. Here are some products to help capture the precious resource so you can reuse it elsewhere — indoors and out — and some products that help conserve throughout the year.

Outdoors

Rainwater Hog

Australian architect Sally Dominguez believes in both water conservation and good design, and her version of a water storage unit is a perfect marriage of the two. Its innovative modular design means it can be stored vertically or horizontally in inconspicuous places such as under decking or along a fence.

Each 51-gallon tank is constructed of recyclable food-grade plastic, comes in bronze and olive green, and measures 71 by 19 1/2 by 9 1/2 inches.

The Hog can be used as part of a water-catchment system by connecting downspouts to it, or simply as a water-storage unit. This award-winning product is best used in multiples, taking advantage of its slim design.

About $350 each. Ask the retailer about options when purchasing more than one.

Find it at Urban Farmer stores: San Francisco (415) 661-2204; Mill Valley (415) 380-3840; Richmond (510) 524-1604. To learn more, go to www.rainwaterhog.com.

Drought Buster

If you're not ready to commit to a rain barrel, the Drought Buster is the perfect starting point for directing rainwater to your plants by simply attaching your garden hose to your downspout via this inexpensive adapter. Michael Shaw, a Colorado resident and former builder, created the Drought Buster after experiencing drought conditions in the early 1990s.

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