How To Make A Rainwater Barrel

There are many benefits to using a rain water barrel as a method for rainwater harvesting. Rainwater collection systems are a necessity in many parts of the world. Rain water is a free natural resource on our planet. It is also extremely beneficial in the growth of plants, vegetables, and fruit trees. Rain contains no minerals and chemicals including chlorine and fluoride. Rain harvesting can solve all your outdoor watering needs including jobs that would otherwise seem like a waste of water. For instance, watering a lawn or washing a car are not as essential but can be done if you use the water in your rain barrel.

Begin by purchasing a 55 gallon barrel, preferably one that is new or a recycled barrel that was previously used for food storage. You must start with a clean barrel and one that is free of chemicals so your rain water will not become polluted. Place the rainwater barrel on a stand or elevated level surface directly below you downspout. The rainbarrel should be elevated at least 12 inches off of the ground. This will enable you to access water with a bucket and the water will flow down better with a little help from gravity. Having a barrel that is not level will later become a big problem once your rain water barrel is full.

Next you will then need to drill a 6 inch hole at the top of the barrel which will also need to be screen off to prevent debris and insects from getting into the barrel. Any screen will do, you only want water to be able to pass through. Next use a 29/32 inch drill bit to make one hole on the side of the barrel towards the top which will serve as an overflow and one towards the bottom which will hold the faucet. Use a threaded hose adapter and place the threaded portion in the upper hole. Attach a hose to this adapter to direct the excess rain water away from your home. Use a threaded faucet and place that into the bottom hole. You can then add a hose to this faucet or use it just like this to dispense the water into a bucket. Make sure you test your installations to see if they are leaking. You may need to use a little caulking or sealant to seal any holes where water can pass through.

Now all you have to do is cut the downspout and use an elbow to direct the water directly into your barrel. This will ensure that the rain ends up in the barrel and not pooled around the foundation of your home. If water does begin to pool around your home it could later cause major structural damage. This is also why an overflow hose is necessary to divert the water away from any structures. At this point, you now have the option to attach other rainwater barrels to this one and you can double or triple the amount of water you can collect.

As you can see, learning how to build a rain water barrel is fairly simple. If you don’t feel comfortable with these few steps you can always purchase a rain barrel kit. The kits come with everything you need except for a base or stand. You can easily build a rain barrel stand from concrete blocks or retaining wall blocks. Use a little bit of mortar to ensure that the blocks cannot move or shift under the weight of the barrel once it is full of rain water. Kits and supplies needed are typically found at garden centers or hardware stores. Harvesting rainwater with rain water barrels is easy and inexpensive. Never drink the water in your rain water barrel or use it for cooking or indoor cleaning. A water purifier will need to be installed before the water is safe for consumption.

* Image by: Carol Doss, UTRR

Tags: build a rain water barrel, building a rain water barrel, rain barrel stand, rain water barrel kit, rain water barrel stand

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