How to Build a Rain Barrel - Article: The Family Handyman. Cheapest DIY Rain Barrel (Works Better Than Most) So I found a way to build an effective rain collection barrel for around $40.
All parts were purchased at the local Ace Hardware store. I used a trash can (32 gal) for easy cleaning and construction. A 55 gal blue barrel could be adapted for increased water needs. 1 trash can with lid2 plastic downspout extenders (accordion style), fitted to the size of your downspout1 bulkhead fitting1 boiler drain valve1 tube silver gutter sealant At first I tried silicone to seal the seams, but it wouldn't stick the the trash can material. Since using Seamer Mate, I found the Lowe's version. This stuff has a million waterproofing uses, and what great adhesion! Here is a close-up of the bulkhead fitting. The best part about this design is that every drop of rain is directed into the barrel, and once full, all rain is redirected into your drain system. During winter, the barrel can be removed. If the trash can is too much of an eyesore, you could always build a little house like I did here. Rainwater Collection Diagram. How to Build a Rainwater Collection System: 9 steps.
Steps Method 1 of 4: Getting Rain Barrel Supplies 1Obtain one or more water storage barrels.
You can buy a water storage barrel online, but it's cheaper to get a used one from a company that uses large barrels to store food and other merchandise (just be sure to clean it thoroughly with soapy water). A rain barrel can also be made from a large plastic trash can. Get a barrel that will hold 30 to 55 gallons of water. 2Get additional supplies to turn the barrels into a water collection system. Method 2 of 4: Building a Rain Barrel Platform 1Level an area right next to your downspout. 3Stack concrete blocks on top of the pea gravel. Method 3 of 4: Adding the Spigot and Overflow Valve 1Drill a spigot hole in the side of your barrel. 4Make an overflow valve.
Method 4 of 4: Assembling the Collection System 1Connect the downspout elbow to the downspout. 4Connect the additional barrels. Tips Ad Warnings Sources and Citations. Creating A Simple And Inexpensive Rain Water Collection System. Our barn’s metal roof is our supply of water for the entire farm Visitors to the farm are usually surprised to learn that we water the entire garden and landscape with reclaimed rain water.
Our system, which collects and stores rainwater from our barn’s metal roof, provides 100% of our annual watering needs. The best part, it was extremely easy to install, and can be inexpensively adapted to almost any home, shed or roof with a gutter. We spent the past week hooking our tanks back up from winter storage – and within 24 hours - we had just over 150 gallons stored from a single rain. It’s been over a year now since we first completed the rain collection system – and I honestly don’t know how we survived without it.
It gives us access to free water, and with our two plastic tote tanks, can collect as much as 550 gallons from a single downpour. How it works: Through a simple in-line diverter – the rainwater is carried to our main capture tank Here is a look at the system’s components and cost: How To Become Water Self Sufficient. The following article has been contributed by Lucas Patriotus, a special services veteran with years of survival training.
It has been published with permission of the author. It does not necessarily represent the views of PreppingToSurvive.com. Water Is Life I don’t need to tell you why your family needs safe potable water as well as long term food storage, first aid kits, and other survival gear to survive the aftermath of an emergency or disaster. People can live for days or even weeks without food but no one survives past 4 or 5 days without water. “…Drinking, sanitation and hygiene constitute the basic human survival needs for water. Including drinking, sanitation and hygiene that same family of four would require 1560 gallons of potable water to survive for 30 days.
Water Availability is not Guaranteed What if one day after an emergency or disaster you turn on the tap and either nothing comes out, or what comes out is unsafe to drink?