Rain barrel
For many years, before water was available at the turn of a faucet handle, rain barrels captured runoff rainwater and satisfied needs as diverse as providing drinking water, washing laundry and bathing. Today, rain barrels are an environmentally friendly as well as a practical way to utilize natural rainfall in areas of the lawn and garden where a faucet is not available, wash cars and provide water for compost piles. Rainfall has little mineral content and is excellent for indoor plants. Flower and vegetable gardens can be irrigated by attaching soaking hoses to the rain barrel. Does this Spark an idea?
Instructions
1. Cut a perfectly round hole with a 6-inch hole-saw, 6 inches in from the edge, in the top of the 55-gallon barrel to serve as the inflow for rainwater. Food-grade plastic or steel rain barrels are available from hardware stores. Be certain that recycled barrels are food grade and have never contained chemicals or any other harmful substances.
2. Use a power drill and a 29/32-inch bit to drill a hole on the side of the barrel, 6 inches down from the top rim, to act as an overflow valve. Drill another 29/32-inch hole 6 inches up from the bottom rim, in line with the overflow valve hole, in the side of the barrel. This hole will be for the spigot.
3. Screw a 3/4-inch NPT pipe tap, available from the hardware store, into the top overflow valve hole and then screw it out. Repeat the same process with the bottom spigot hole.
4. Scrub the barrel with a solution of castile soap, available from retail stores, and 2 tsp. of vinegar or lemon juice for every gallon of water. Rinse the barrel thoroughly with clear water.
5. Wrap the threaded side of the hose adapter with a layer of Teflon tape; both items are available at hardware stores. Insert the threaded side of the hose adapter into the top overflow valve hole and turn it clockwise until the threads no longer show on the outside of the barrel.
6. Prepare the threaded side of the brass faucet, available from hardware stores, with a layer of the Teflon tape. Insert the threaded side of the faucet and screw it into the hole with a clockwise motion until the threads are no longer visible on the outside of the barrel.
7. Cover the 6-inch hole in the top of the barrel by placing the 6-inch louvered screen on it with the louvered side facing up and the screen side facing down.
8. Attach a hose onto the hose adapter and point it downhill and away from the house.
9. Build a platform for the barrel to rest on by selecting the downspout from the house's rain gutter that will be used to fill the barrel and place two cement blocks on each side of it.
10. Cut the downspout off about 4 inches above the hole in the top of the barrel. Place an elbow joint on the downspout and direct it over the inflow hole.
Tags: available from, overflow valve, threaded side, available from hardware, from hardware