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Do you know that the roof area of a 1500 square foot house will catch and run off 900 gallons of water during a 1 inch rainfall? The average yearly rainfall in the area where I live is 27 inches per year. If I were able to catch all of that rain it would amount to over 24,000 gallons. We may not be able to catch it all but I will tell you how to catch part of it for use in your yard and garden.
Archaeologists have documented that rain has been collected in containers for some 2000 years. Drawings from the Middle and Far East show that rain water was collected in clay containers from which plants were watered.
In additions to saving money for folks who are on city water systems people who use wells can also benefit from collecting rain water. It is much softer than well water in most cases. Many women swear that it makes their hair look much better when washed with rain water instead of tap water.
Rain barrels are easy to make, even those with limited mechanical ability can make one without too much trouble.
Feeling artsy? Decorate to your hearts content
You are limited only by the amount of space that you have in which to place the barrel or barrels. If you have enough room barrels can be joined together in order to store larger amounts of water.
How about some dragonflies and flowers?
A couple of tips regarding building a R.B.
Use only food grade barrels
DO NOT use a barrel that has contained chemicals, solvents, orpetroleum products.
Good sources for barrels are Middle Eastern markets. Many get their olives in barrels that are ideal for converting into R.B.’s.
Check with wine or home brewing stores; many sell barrels at a very reasonable cost.
Look in the Yellow pages under Barrels; we have a dealer here from which you can purchase new food grade barrels for about $20 for a 55 gallon size.
If you’re not up to building your own, check your garden catalogs many companies sell them ready made.
When choosing the locations, remember it needs to be near a downspout.
The higher the barrel is off the ground the more water pressure you will have. I’ve found that cement blocks make a sturdy platform to set the barrels on. 3 or 4 blocks high give adequate pressure from which to water.
The following instructions are meant to be a general guideline, I’m sure many of you will adapt or “tweak the plans to suit your individual situation.
1 - 1/2 inch female threaded silcock (aka outdoor faucet or hose bib)
1 - 1/2 inch threaded bushing
1 - 1/2 inch female threaded socket 1 - roll Teflon tape
1 - 1 foot by 2 foot piece of old or new screen fabric
1 - 1 gallon plastic bucket, tub or flowerpot 4 - cinder blocks
Tools
Jig Saw
Power Drill with 3/4 inch Spade Bit
Scissors
Pipe Wrench and Pump Pliers
Screw Driver
Hack Saw
Tape Measure
Level
Step 1 - Inflow - Cut a hole in the top of the barrel to allow rainwater to enter the barrel, and to access the inside of the barrel. The hole should be just large enough to snugly fit the 1 gallon plastic bucket, tub or flowerpot the bucket will be used to support a screen to keep mosquitoes and debris out. Cut c: 3/4 inch holes in the bucket.
Rain Barrels are easy to make
Step 2 - Spigot - Drill a 3/4 inch hole close to bottom of the 55 gallon barrrel. Put Teflon tape on the 1/2 inch bushing and thread it into the silcock or hose bib. Now carefully thread the other end of bushing into the 1/2 inch hole in bottom of barrel. It should fit snugly in the hole and cut threads in the plastic as you screw it in. Now unscrew it from the barrel, apply Teflon tape to the threads of the bushing and apply silicone to the outside of the flange on the silcock. Screw it back into the hole and into a 1/2 inch socket on the inside of the barrel.
Step 3 - Down Spout ModificationPrepare the area under the down spout where you want to install the rain barrel. Remove the old down spout and splash block and level the area where the barrel will sit. Place the concrete blocks so they are sloped slightly downward away from the house. Set the barrel on the blocks. With a hacksaw cut the down spout so it is just long enough to fit into the bucket on top of the rain barrel.
Step 4 - Overflow - You should provide an overflow for water if the barrel fills to the top. With a jig saw, cut a hole in the side of the barrel large enough to fit the 2 inch male threaded by 2 inch pipe adapter. Place this fitting inside the barrel and thread it into the 2 inch female threaded by 2 inch PVC elbow on the outside of the barrel. Seal with silicone. Cut a length of 2 inch PVC pipe long enough to reach the ground. Attach a 2 inch PVC elbow to the bottom of this pipe and cut another length of 2 inch pipe to connect to a splash block. This is wherer 2 or more barrels may be connected together for more storeage.
Multiple barrels can be connected together for more capacity
Ready made barrels are available for sale
About Paul Rodman
Paul Rodman has been gardening for over 40 years. He is an Advanced Master Gardener, and American Rose Society Consulting Rosarian. He is currently president of the Western Wayne County Master Gardener Association in Wayne County, Michigan.
Rodman is the garden columnist for The News Herald newspaper, in Southgate, Michigan. He has also written for the OrganicGardening.com web site.
He has lectured on various gardening topics throughout southeastern Michigan.
His favorite pastime is teaching children about gardening. For the past several years he has conducted classes for second grade students teaching them about subjects ranging from vermi-composting to propagation.
Posted by rothdavid (from Sarasota, FL) on March 25, 2008 at 10:02 AM:
Hi:
As a child I recall using rain water from a downspout on some houseplants and all that I watered with this water died. I always take pause as I see the water gushing from the downspout here in Florida and I think its a perfect source of water. I was wondering if anyone else can comment or provide information on studies done on the quality of the water coming off a rolled or shingled roof?
David in Florida.
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Posted by keaau749 (from Kea'au, HI) on April 1, 2008 at 9:09 PM:
David, here on the Big Island of Hawai'i, most of the population relies upon roof catchment systems for water supply. I recently had my tank water tested because the volcano is venting again. Other than insignificant amounts of sulfer and iron, it was virtually mineral free. I use a sediment filter before my pump, and an extremely fine filter after the pump, then an ultraviolet disinfecting system. The water coming from the tap is about as pure as bottled water, no bacteria and trace amounts of minerals. I have an anodized aluminum roof, about 2800 sf.
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Subject: Rain barrel
Posted by mwperry (from Brandon, MS) on March 25, 2008 at 4:23 AM:
Paul, what don't you know? Or do you know everything!
Wonderful article on rain barrels. My niece in Atlanta wants a rain barrel. Atlanta has stern water restrictions. I am sending her and her DH your article because it is so clear and explicit on how to make a barrel. Thank you for all your good works.
Martha
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Subject: Big tank as rain barrel
Posted by gvocks (from Kincaid, IL) on March 24, 2008 at 10:01 AM:
This year I'm going to try using a 1500 gallon tank for storage/collector. I'll be collecting off a large shed roof and I'll hook up my drip systems to the tank through a regular pump. I'm going to try this in lieu of just using the well that I normally use for the drip irrigation. (The well goes dry in the summer so I haul water. I figure that if I have to haul I can just as easily replenish the rain barrel as the well.) Wish me luck!
Posted by girlgroupgirl (from Atlanta, GA) on March 22, 2008 at 11:41 AM:
Those are great photos of one barrel linking to the next, Paul! We have several linked up together and plan to run one entire side of the house in barrels. We already have at least one barrel on every downspout and two on more "active" spouts. It's amazing how much water you can fill in a short rain. Typically a 15 minute medium rain garners us about 600 gallons.
I try to stretch it out between rains!
girlgroupgirl
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Subject: rainbarrel availability
Posted by nettesbulldog (from Natick, MA) on March 20, 2008 at 9:22 PM:
Check with your town or city, I purchased a blue rainbarrel that was all ready to use, from our town for just $55! It has been great, fills very fast, doesn't give off any odor and I drained it at the end of the season, turned it upside down behind a shed for winter storage. I think I will paint it terra cotta this year. I hope to purchase some additional ones. It makes me feel great each time that I use it.
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Subject: For the unhandyman
Posted by edgeoftheworld (from Conneaut, OH) on March 20, 2008 at 7:36 PM:
I am not that handy making stuff.I purchased my barrels from ArronsRainBarrels.com. They are not cheap.I have 8 barrels.I purchased 4 one year and 4 the next.Aaron gave me free shipping because of the quanity.He will custom build it to your specifications.I have had them several years,I paid about $100.00 a peice for them.I had gutter pros come out to my house to reverse the gutter downspouts and plumb them in.I wanted all the barrels behind my house.I felt it might look bad to have them in the front of my house.Plus my flower gardens are in my backyard anyhow.They charged me $200.00.So I have about a grand into it.Was it worth it? Too me,yes.I hooked up soaker hoses to all of them.I ran the hoses all through my garden beds.The barrels fill up completely with one short downpour.Through the soaker hoses it takes about 4 days for them to empty.I never have to water any of my plants and my gardens always look great during the summer.The plants definitely do better with rain vs tap water.You are saving the planet and your water bill.I used to have problems in the spring with water in my basement,no more.For me the investment was well worth it.Edge
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Posted by girlgroupgirl (from Atlanta, GA) on March 21, 2008 at 4:23 PM:
Check with small local independent stores too. I work in a place that has rain barrels for under $90 here in GA, and counties and community gardens hold classes where you can make a barrel at a low cost.
GGG
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Subject: Question re: winter
Posted by gabagoo (from Yonkers, NY) on March 20, 2008 at 4:15 PM:
I have been thinking about setting up a rain barrel(s) for my garden.
When I read the descriptions for the ones advertised in the catalogues, on-line sites, etc. They say they have to be stored during the winter months.
Is this true?
I don't live in an area that gets a non-stop deep freeze for days on end. I'm in zone 6.
I don't think it would totally freeze solid.
If this is something that can be left out year-round, I will look into it further.
However, if not - I probably would have to pass on it.
I don't have a place where I could store them. No basement, no garage.
Any suggestions would be greatly appreciated.
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Posted by carrielamont (from Milton, MA) on March 20, 2008 at 5:42 PM:
Me too, Paul, same situation. We do have a garage but it is completely full of people's (none of it is mine!) STUFF. x, Carrie
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Posted by edgeoftheworld (from Conneaut, OH) on March 20, 2008 at 6:56 PM:
I bought mine,paid about $100.00 per barrel.Own 8 barrels.I was told to bring them inside during the winter.I store them empty in my unheated garage.Apparently they will freeze solid and split.Too much money invested for me to take the chance.They stack well but still take up room.If disconnected the barrels so no water would go in them,They could probably be stored outside during the winter.I live in zone 5,have the room to store them inside,so I do.Edge
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Posted by carrielamont (from Milton, MA) on March 20, 2008 at 9:22 PM:
Lucky for you, Edge! (Sounds like you got a great deal, too.)
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Posted by wvgardendeva (from Berkeley Springs, WV) on March 24, 2008 at 10:26 AM:
I live in the Eastern Panhandle of WV - Zone 6 - and have two rain barrels that I got last summer. I left them outside this winter with temps into the mid-teens some nights. They had water in them but were not completely full. They survived the winter just fine, even the hoses on them were Ok. I have been using the water all winter for my house plants.
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Posted by cedar18 (from Lula, GA) on March 24, 2008 at 12:28 PM:
Zone 7a. We have had our purchased rain barrel 10 years and left it outside, empty all that time (uh, mostly). It has however developed a leak recently. We haven't solved it yet. Could just be accumulation of freeze/thaw and maybe even breakdown of sunlight.
With the terrible drought N. Ga. has been in, we have been quite proud that we did the RB thing a long time ago. :)
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Subject: great
Posted by flowrgirl1 (from Winston Salem curren, NC) on March 20, 2008 at 12:18 PM:
what a great article. I will make one of these soon!
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Subject: Good and timely article
Posted by Dutchlady1 (from Naples, FL) on March 20, 2008 at 6:46 AM:
With our water restrictions I should be getting one of those....
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Posted by McGlory (from Southeast, NE) on March 20, 2008 at 3:16 PM:
I just went to a garden center over my lunch hour, where they had them for $149.99 each! Not very big either. Making your own seems like a more viable option. Thanks for the good info, Paul.
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Subject: Great read, one question though
Posted by astcgirl (from Brandon, FL) on March 20, 2008 at 12:56 AM:
Thanks for the information, Just this past month I had 4 rain barrels put in my backyard to help ease the amount of water that was coming in during the rainy season. I just posted this on another forum the other day, do you have any suggestions as to how to control the smell of stagnant water? I have 1 that was full for 4 or so days and the smell coming from it was horrible, it is right under an Oak tree so at the moment there are lots of leaves and pollen falling around, although it does have a mesh ontop preventing anything from entering. I end up dumping the water now after 1-2 days to avoid the stink....but would rather keep it longer so that I can water my plants. They are only about 1 month old so I don't think they need cleaning yet, when I take the top off you can see a film ontop of the water....not sure what that is. It's mainly the one under the Oak tree that is having the problem that I've noticed, the others smell but not as much.
Any suggestions to keep the smell down and also is it bad to put the stinky water on my roses....it's not like a little stinky, we're talking alfalfa tea stinky! LOL
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Posted by paulgrow (from Allen Park, MI) on March 20, 2008 at 10:49 AM:
Actually I'm in Fl right now on vacation, (Tarpon Springs)
I went to a seminar last week on water conservation put on by the Pasco county extension.
Check with the extension service in your county, I've never encountered that problem in Michigan.
Paul
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Posted by frankford (from East Lansing, MI) on March 20, 2008 at 11:36 PM:
The fact that the water smells indicates that bacteria or algae is growing .You will need to disenfect the barrels before storing any more water. I recommend scrubbing the insides of the barrels with a solution of bleach. Use one part bleach to ten parts water. After scrubbing thoroughly rinse out the barrels. If you don't do this the stagnant water will breed mosquitos. This is just the type of water that mosquitos prefer. I am a Master Gardener and Landscape Contractor.
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Posted by fjtexas (from Austin, TX) on April 7, 2008 at 2:56 PM:
Is the oak tree you are referring to a live oak? If so, it is the live oak catkins (or aments, are slim, cylindrical flower clusters, wind-pollinated and with inconspicuous or no petals) that are making your water smell. I have the same problem this time of year and don’t collect water for 3 weeks or so until the catkins are gone.
This message was edited Apr 7, 2008 12:57 PM
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Posted by astcgirl (from Brandon, FL) on April 7, 2008 at 3:49 PM:
Hello everyone, well after cleaning out the barrels with bleach (frankford's suggestion), the next rain came and it was ok for a few days, I had thought the smell was gone....but alas the smell is returned (mind you I even tried putting a capful of peroxide in there...maybe it needed more) fjtexas, your comments have me wondering, I think it has something to do with the pollen from the oak tree (not sure if mine is a "live oak" or not)...but out of the 4 barrels that I have and this being the only one under the tree which has the smell, I am thinking that it is the pollen......The smell isn't as bad as before....and the pollen has died down a little now, so with jftexas's thoughts if I wait a couple more weeks it should be ok.
Thank you for all the wonderful thoughts and suggestions....we'll get to the bottom of this eventually.
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Posted by fjtexas (from Austin, TX) on April 7, 2008 at 4:05 PM:
The live oaks I'm referring to have little green fuzzy clusters on them. See 2nd photo down on this page: [HYPERLINK@www.floridata.com]
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Posted by astcgirl (from Brandon, FL) on April 7, 2008 at 5:13 PM:
YUP that's the oak tree we have, that pollen was everywhere.....it's stopped falling now, so hopefully I wont need to wait much longer and I'll have clean water again. Thanks fjtexas.
