If you have your own lawn or garden, then you should look into making your own irrigation tank. An irrigation tank frees you from time-consuming hand-watering. It also frees you from hooking an irrigation system up to your house's plumbing system. With an irrigation tank you can harvest rainwater instead of using drinking water for your irrigation needs. During times of drought or water restriction this can mean the difference between life and death for your lawn or garden. Does this Spark an idea?
Instructions
1. Drill a hole in the side of the barrel, as close to the bottom as possible. Make the hole the same size as the tube leading to your irrigation system.
2. Set the barrel up in the position you intend to keep it. A full 55 gallons weighs a lot, and is not easily moved. If you are harvesting rainwater for irrigation, put it under your house's downspout.
3. Insert the intake line from your irrigation system into the hole at the bottom of the barrel. Push the conical filter screen washer over the end of the line inside the barrel. Seal the joint between the line and the barrel with caulk.
4. Cut a circle or square out of the screen, using the wire cutters. Any shape will do, provided that the shortest dimension is two to three inches longer than the width of the barrel. Place the screen on top of the barrel and bend its edges over the lip. Attach the screen to the barrel with the screws. The screen allows rainwater to fall into the barrel, or for you to pour water into it, while keeping out debris. It also allows air to get into the barrel, which is what lets the water flow out of the tube inserted at the bottom.
Tags: your irrigation, irrigation system, irrigation tank, your lawn garden, barrel with