A rain barrel is a financial and environmental upgrade from gutters and downspouts alone. Rain gutter downspouts are connected to the rain barrel, making better use of an otherwise wasted resource. The water that is collected can be used to water plants and wash vehicles. It should not be used for drinking or cooking without being properly filtered. Does this Spark an idea?
Preparation
Gather supplies for rain barrel assembly. A large (approximately 32 gallon) heavy-duty rubber or plastic trash can works well for a barrel. Buy one with a lid to keep out debris. Other items needed are a drill, two cinder blocks, a small utility knife, silicone sealant gel, chalk, 2 square feet of fine mesh screen and two outlet valves (the plastic ones used for water heaters are perfect). The outlet valves will act as spigots.
The rain barrel should be placed beneath existing down spouting. Level the ground where the water barrel will stand.
The Barrel
The two cinder blocks will hold the rain barrel off of the ground, making the water in the bottom of the barrel more accessible. Place the cinder blocks roughly 6 inches apart. Place the barrel on top of the cinder blocks. One of the plastic valves will be installed 4 to 6 inches from the bottom of the barrel. The valve should be centered between the two cinder blocks; this assures room for a watering can under the valve.
Place the end of the valve against the barrel and draw an outline (for cutting). Drill a hole, then cut it to size with a utility knife. Cut carefully; the valve should fit into the hole very tightly. Place the valve inside the hole and seal the edges of the hole with silicone.
The second valve will be placed near the top of the barrel (8 to 10 inches down from the top) and left in an open position to redirect excess water. Attach a hose to this valve to redirect the overflow to a nearby garden or flower bed.
Cleanliness
Place the fine mesh screen around the bottom of the downspout, and guide the downspout into the top of the rain barrel. The screen will keep leaves and other debris from finding their way from gutters to barrel. For added protection, cut a hole in the trash can lid through which you can fit the downspout and keep the lid on the barrel.
Tags: cinder blocks, rain barrel, bottom barrel, fine mesh, fine mesh screen, from gutters, mesh screen