Capturing excess storm water is an environmentally and economically sensible activity.
Rain barrels provide an excellent way of conserving water and lowering your utility bill. The runoff from the roof and gutter system is natural water that is actually probably better for your garden than city water, which has been treated and has chemicals added. By catching the runoff from your house, you can direct the moisture where it is most needed or store it until rainfall is limited. The Maryland Department of Natural Resources says building a rain barrel can save consumers 1,300 gallons of water in summer. Some cities even provide incentives for using a rain barrel. Does this Spark an idea?
Instructions
1. Don your safety glasses to protect your eyes. Measure at least one inch above the bottom of the barrel. Make a hole there using a drill and a 3/4-inch bit. Screw in a male adapter and then unscrew it. It will be hard at first, but the grooves in the adapter will cut into the barrel.
2. Wrap Teflon tape around the threads on the male adapter and coat the threads with silicon. Screw the piece back into the barrel and let the silicone set for 24 hours. Attach a vinyl hose to the adapter.
3. Make a screen for the top of the rain barrel to keep out debris. Use a pencil to mark the outline of an atrium grate on top of the barrel. Starting in the center of the circle use the router to clean out a hole big enough for the grate. Cut a piece of window screen to fit inside the atrium grate. Fit it inside and then situate the grate in the hole.
4. Use the drill and 3/4-inch bit to make a notch in the top lip of the rain barrel. Into this snap the other 3/4-inch male adapter. You may seal it in with silicone if you wish. Attach another piece of hose in the length you need to provide a runoff drain. This will provide a way to redirect water in the even the rain barrel is full.
5. Cut the down spout with a hacksaw to the level you need where it is just over 3 inches from the top of the rain barrel. Attach a 3-inch gutter elbow and seal with silicone. Situate the hole in the top of the rain barrel just under the gutter elbow to catch the runoff.
Tags: rain barrel, male adapter, atrium grate, drill 4-inch, gutter elbow