One way to save water and use it for watering your garden is to make your own rain barrel. Rain barrels hook directly to your downspout and use a spigot at the bottom to fill containers. While people often make their own rain barrels and include the spigot and opening for the gutter, it is also necessary to make an overflow opening to prevent the barrel from bursting when full. Attaching an overflow pipe to a rain barrel is a matter of drilling a hole and placing a piece of PVC pipe inside to allow the excess water to escape. Does this Spark an idea?
Instructions
1. Drill a hole with a 2 3/8-inch hole saw in the side of the rain barrel 2 inches from the top.
2. Insert the threads of a PVC male adapter into the hole from the outside. Thread a lock nut over the threads on the inside of the barrel. Tighten the nut with a pair of slip-joint pliers.
3. Cut 6 inches off the end of the PVC pipe with a hacksaw. Insert the 6-inch piece into the male adapter at the top of the rain barrel. No glue is necessary because friction holds the pipe together.
4. Place one end of a PVC elbow over the end of the 6-inch piece of PVC pipe.
5. Measure from the open end of the elbow down 6 inches above the ground. Transfer the measurement to the PVC pipe. Cut the pipe to size with the hacksaw. Insert the pipe into the open end of the elbow until it is snug.
Tags: rain barrel, 6-inch piece, hacksaw Insert, male adapter, open elbow, piece pipe