Use the downspout to collect precipitation in a rain barrel.
Not every house is equipped with eaves, but all houses should have a gutter system. This system, along with the use of rain chains and the property's surrounding trees, are a good way to use rain barrels. The gutter system allows the use of rain barrels to catch runoff from the roof and the rainwater, which is more oxygenated than water straight from your hose, provides a good way to water indoor and outdoor plants, and reduce the amount of runoff that fills sewer systems. Does this Spark an idea?
Instructions
1. Place the rain barrel on a platform at the corner of the house where a downspout is located. The platform is there to lift the barrel a few inches off the ground to allow for drainage. The platform can be anything from a wooden pallet to 1 to 2 inches of pea gravel.
2. Modify the gutter's downspout for use with the rain barrel. Most downspouts start from a corner of a house and lead all the way to the ground to take runoff away from the home. Shorten the downspout so it leads directly into the top of the rain barrel.
3. Install a small hose and spigot at the bottom of the rain barrel. This allows you to drain the barrel to water your landscaping or for use on indoor plants. Run a long hose directly to plants and landscaped areas that need watering. The spigot allows for the control of drainage to these areas.
4. Use a second barrel in areas that experience a lot of rain and spring runoff. Connect two barrels together to allow for overflow by placing a hose from the bottom of one barrel into the top of a second one. You also can place a barrel at another downspout along the perimeter of the house.
5. Use rain chains to maximize the amount of water caught in the barrel. On houses without eaves, hang a rain chain from a tree or other high point on the property. The other end of the chain is placed directly into the top of the rain barrel. The rainwater travels down the chain and into the barrel to collect the water.
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