One way to conserve water is to harvest rain for use in your garden.
Conserving water is important for many homeowners. Whether you live in a desert, rural town or a high-density urban area, installing a rain barrel is both an eco- and budget-friendly solution to your watering needs. However, if your garden is more than a few feet from your rain barrel, watering is problematic. Unless you install the rain barrel on a platform, the water pressure will not push the water through the hose and out to your garden. A small in-line pump allows you to water your garden or quickly empty your rain barrel for cleaning. Does this Spark an idea?
Instructions
1. Measure the height of the rain barrel with a measuring tape. Place the pump on top of the barrel's lid or on a nearby shelf. Add the distance from the lid to the pump intake to the barrel height.
2. Check the fitting on the garden hose to ensure that it fits onto the pump. Cut the garden hose to the measure with a utility knife.
3. Cut a 3/4-inch hole in the lid of the rain barrel, using a drill with a spade bit.
4. Attach the garden hose to the pump. Insert the other end of the hose into the hole in the rain barrel's lid, pushing it all the way to the bottom.
5. Wrap plumber's tape around the hose where it meets the rain barrel's lid, attaching the hose securely so that it stays in place when the pump is running. The tape also blocks the edges of the opening, preventing mosquitoes from using the rain barrel as a breeding ground.
6. Attach a second garden hose to the outlet on the pump. Use this hose to water the garden.
7. Plug the pump into a GFCI-protected outlet. Use an extension cord made for outdoor use if necessary.
Tags: rain barrel, garden hose, your garden, rain barrel, hole rain, hole rain barrel