The Amazing Hidden Rain Barrel

There’s not much to see at this stop on the , and that’s the point. Looking at Scott and Martha Weicht’s backyard, you will notice a neat and spacious patio adorned with potted plants and a sloping hill that leads to a garden. What is hidden from view is their 2,500 gallon water tank. 

Essentially an oversized rain barrel, the 5-foot-tall, 9-foot-long water tank is a rain capture system hidden by a strategically designed patio area. Basically, water comes down off the roofline and runs into the system.

Weicht approximates a collection of about 500 gallons of water for every inch of rain. Leaves and debris wash out and any excess water is piped down to the base of the hill, where it feeds the garden and grass. A filter takes care of any impurities like algae and a pump in the basement—similar to one you might buy for a cabin—provides water pressure. On the side of the Weichts’ house are two spigots, one for city water and another, an appropriately green colored one, for the collected rain water.  

Unlike traditional rain barrels, which require maintenance during the warmer months and storage in the winter, Weicht said his system—though a more significant financial investment and more involved installation upfront—is maintenance-free. 

And though 2,500 gallons sounds like a lot of water, Weicht said the rain collection system has opened his eyes to the reality of his water usage. 

“It’s very interesting,” Weicht said. “It’s amazing how much you use in a day. You can use 400 gallons in a day to water a yard.” 

At that rate, the Weichts can drain the water tank in one week’s time if they are watering their grass. Just watering the plants, one tank of water could last all summer. 

In addition to the rain collection system, the Weichts have a geo-exchange ground loop system for heating and cooling. Circulating in a loop field 15 feet beneath the ground is 1,800 feet of plastic pipe. The efficient system extracts the cold out of the ground and dumps the heat back in the ground in the summer (that’s the exchange bit); in the winter it does the opposite. It runs on electricity, so the Weichts use no gas for heating. And with radiant in-floor heating and efficient insulation throughout the house, Weicht said his family never turns the heat on in the upper level—not even in January.

“When it’s 30 below zero outside it might be 62 up on the second floor, and it’s always a nice 68 or 70 in the basement and on the first floor,” Weicht said. “This is an extremely efficient way to heat a house.”

Weicht, who is part owner of Adolfson & Peterson, a Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) certified builder, will be available during the tour to answer questions about the geo-exchange ground loop system and rain capture water system. There will also be printouts available so visitors can see and understand what’s underground. 

Visit the Weicht home and four other locations during the Edina Eco Yard and Garden Tour from 1-5 p.m. on Sunday, July 31.

Tickets are $15 and can be purchased the day of the tour, beginning at 12:30 p.m. at 7013 Comanche Court.

Be on the lookout for more sneak peaks of each Edina Eco Yard and Garden Tour stop before you have the opportunity to see them in person.