Using a barrel to collect rain can be a cost-effective way to save on water costs.
Rain barrels can be useful for any household. Since rain water is naturally soft and generally free from most chemicals, it is useful in watering garden plants and vegetables. In areas with a municipal water supply, using harvested rain to water your plants could save you a lot of money. In areas with a low annual rainfall, harvesting rain water will help you get around water restrictions. Setting up a rain barrel system is cost efficient and requires few supplies, making it a viable option for most homeowners. Does this Spark an idea?
Instructions
1. Determine which rain gutter you want to collect your water from. Typically a rain gutter located on the back or side of the house is used to hide the barrel.
2. Find or purchase a large barrel -- preferably plastic. New and used 55-gallon plastic barrels are easily found at a local hardware or home improvement store. New barrels go for around $45, as of 2011.
3. Use concrete cinder blocks to build a platform for the barrel to sit on under the gutter spout you will be using. Lay the cinder blocks close together, building a platform large enough to support the entire base of the barrel. If a spigot is to be installed, purchase and install it before placing the barrel on the platform.
4. Use a saw to cut a 6-inch diameter hole into the top of the barrel and install a screen to filter leaves and other debris from the rain water. Cover the entire hole with the screen and then staple it onto the barrel.
5. Saw off a section of the gutter's downspout so that the spout ends slightly above the upper rim of the barrel when it's sitting on its platform. Attach a flexible section to the bottom of the downspout so the water flow will enter the barrel through the screened hole.
Tags: rain water, areas with, cinder blocks, rain gutter