A water catcher lets you conserve rain water.
A water catcher, or rain barrel, is a great way to reduce your ecological footprint and save a bit of money at the same time. Normally, rainwater runs off your roof and is wasted. It flows into storm sewers and is washed away, or it soaks into the ground around your house, potentially causing mold problems. A water catcher allows you to store this water instead, and reuse it to water plants. Does this Spark an idea?
Instructions
1. Choose a barrel. The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency recommends using a 55-gallon polyethylene plastic barrel. You may be able to get one free or at low cost from a car wash or bottling company. If you would like a more rustic look, a whiskey barrel or wine cask will also do the job. Rinse the barrel out.
2. Drill a 3/4-inch hole in the bottom of a 1-gallon bucket. Glue a piece of screen material over the hole with a waterproof adhesive. This bucket will catch rainwater from the downspout and trap leaves and other debris, preventing them from draining into the water barrel.
3. Place the plastic bucket on top of the barrel with the bottom end down. Trace the base of the bucket onto the barrel. Cut a circle out of the barrel slightly larger than the hole you just traced so that the bucket fits snugly into the hole without falling through.
4. Drill a 1-inch hole in the barrel toward the bottom. The hole should be as low possible while still being within your reach from the top of the barrel. Drill a second 1-inch hole near the rim of the barrel for an overflow.
5. Wrap teflon tape around the threaded end of a 3/4-inch hose bib spigot so it completely covers the threads three times. Screw the spigot into the bottom hole in the barrel.
6. Apply a strong (but not instant) adhesive such as epoxy to one side of a rubber washer with an interior diameter of 1 inch. Reach into the barrel and thread the washer over the spigot so that it attaches to the inside of the barrel.
7. Reach into the barrel and thread a galvanized lock nut onto the end of the spigot. Hold the nut while a friend rotates the spigot until it is tight.
8. Repeat steps 7 through 9 for the overflow spigot.
9. Place the barrel beneath a downspout with the bucket inside the hole you cut. You may have to remove part of the downspout or bend it to make this work.
Tags: water catcher, 1-inch hole, barrel Drill, barrel thread, bottom hole, hole barrel