Collected rain water can be used to irrigate a garden or lawn.
Harvesting rain water can provide relief to dwindling community water supplies. In addition, harvesting water through a home collection system can allow for arid regions to become hospitable to plant growth. The quality of rain water is sometimes questionable, however, especially if the water is collected in an urban environment. You should use water you're not sure about for irrigation and other non-drinking activities, like bathing. If contamination is a risk, dumping about a liter or so of water at the beginning of collection can help mitigate contamination concerns. Does this Spark an idea?
Instructions
1. Calculate the amount of water you need for your household. In doing so, you can assess how much of your water usage you can offset with rain water collection. Included on the United States National Weather Service website are the average monthly rainfall totals per region. One inch of rainwater can provide around 600 gallons of water per year. Approximate how many gallons of water you use per year in your household by reviewing past water utility bills and determining how much water you will need to harvest. Multiple water collection systems can be installed if necessary.
2. Remove the lid of the plastic barrel. If the barrel is not brand new, wash and rinse it thoroughly with liquid soap and water. Drill twenty holes in the barrel lid. These holes will let the water get through the system, but will keep out any wildlife.
3. Trace the outline of the lid onto the wire mesh with a permanent marker. Using the utility knife, cut along the pattern, allowing an inch of mesh to extend beyond the drawn circle. Push the mesh down into the barrel about once inch. The wire mesh will filter large pieces of debris, making the water cleaner and more usable. Refit the lid onto the barrel.
4. Locate a gutter downspout on your home. The downspout you choose should be above ground that is relatively flat and free from tree roots or large rocks. Lay the four cinder blocks underneath the downspout and determine at what height the barrel will sit. Using the hacksaw, cut the downspout to 4 inches above the approximate height of the barrel.
5. Lay the barrel on top of the cinder blocks. To use collected water, turn the tap until it flows.
Tags: rain water, barrel barrel, cinder blocks, gallons water, gallons water year, height barrel, water collection