Water Barrel Ready For Rain!

I've been wanting/needing a water collection barrel.
I got the barrel a few months ago and it's been on Hubby's & my brothers' to do list.
One of the brothers just put up gutters at his house and had some leftover pieces that he brought over for a specific area of the house. At the back door, water just gushes down and gives you a good soaking. This is also the door that leads to the garage/workshop/storage area. He & Hubby put it up.




gutter ( photo / image / picture from cherylad's Garden )



Then Hubby built the stand for the barrel. somehow things got a little "unsquare"... but oh well! It's pretty darn sturdy and looks good too. He used treated 4x4s & 2x4s plus 1x6s for the extra stability at the top.



barrel stand ( photo / image / picture from cherylad's Garden )

Next on the list. A filter system. Since there aren't any trees near the house, there's really no need to worry about leaves... unless of course they blow over during a storm. I thought and thought about what to use and then remembered some stuff I stashed away.
Earlier this year the other brother and Hubby replaced the kitchen drains. I have to admit... we're definitely our Daddy's children... because we tend to keep things like this... "just in case"!
And lo and behold... if they didn't fit perfectly on the opening of the barrel!





drain pieces ( photo / image / picture from cherylad's Garden )



drain ( photo / image / picture from cherylad's Garden )

Next... how to secure them to the barrel.
My first thought was duct tape! But I knew that wouldn't work and headed off to the home improvement center. Found exactly what I was looking for in the plumbing section.




clamp ( photo / image / picture from cherylad's Garden )



Here it is attached to the barrel with the downspout resting snuggly in place.


downspout ( photo / image / picture from cherylad's Garden )



Last on the list... the faucet. This is what had me concerned the most. You may recall seeing my questions to Toni and Evil Roy about it.
Anyhow... I got a standard 3/4 inch faucet and some Epoxy glue... plus had my good old standby Goop sealant ready. Hubby said he didn't need any of that stuff. I said okay... but it's all right here.. "just in case".
What he did was get out the 7/16th drill bit... just a tad smaller than the faucet. Then he heated up the end of the faucet with the little butane torch. It screwed into barrel rather easily as the plastic seemed to melt right around the threads!



faucet ( photo / image / picture from cherylad's Garden )


Well.... I still wasn't convinced it wouldn't leak under pressure.. so I filled up the barrel about 1/4 of the way. No leaks! (But I still have that sealant ready... "just in case"! My Daddy would be proud!)
So... I have my first rain water collection barrel all set up and we're making plans for more!
Now... if it would only rain!!!!



rain water barrel-complete ( photo / image / picture from cherylad's Garden )

 

WOW! That looks really good! I've been wanting to get/make one of those myself. Thanks for the tutorial

 

Cheryl, that is magnificent! You are going to enjoy having a supply of rainwater when you need it.
Have you made accomodation for overflow? We had our barrels fill and the water backed up the downspout, and then we had water overflowing the guttering. My husband (who is every bit as clever as yours) put two 1" holes in the downspout about 6" above where it entered the rain collection container. That way if it starts to back up, it just overflows and is dispersed around the rain collection container.

 

A good project sitting on a sturdy base. I am with you on saving for "just in case." The collection of odds and ends solve lots of problems.

When the barrel gets full you will even have 'spare rain.' Now we need a change in the weather pattern.

Jerry

 

That was awesome Cheryl. Thanks for sharing. It looks great. Rain hasn't been a problem here though. I could only wish at this point. There is rain in the forecast every day this week I sure wish I could send it all to you. Everyone up here would like to get their gardens planted. Right now I'm thinking rice is going to be the crop going on this year at this rate. Anyhow, I hope you get plenty of rain to fill it soon.

 

Thanks everyone!
Jane... yes... there's plenty of a gap at the downspout/drain for the overflow. Next to the faucet not leaking... that was my only other demand.
And I did put a bit of Mosquito Dunk in there too.
With the cleansing and rinsing and testing... it will take at least 2 full barrels before I consider it "free water"!
And Jerry... you wouldn't believe the stuff we still have here from my Dad's old workshop. Plumbing fixtures... nuts/bolts... tools I have no idea what they're for... and so on and so on.
You see, he and his brother, cousins, friends built all their homes. And being in construction... guess they knew they'd need some spare parts later on.
You know... "just in case"

 

Well done Cheryl,..and Hubby as well, .

I think every gardener should have one!,..(meaning water barrel)and like Eileen i have lots of rain over here but its when doing odd jobs with plants that i needed a water barrel,..rather than be going to and fro to the house or setting up the water hose.

Cheryl,..i hope it rains for you to test out your new water supply,..just enough rain to satisfy your,..just in case there is a leak worries .

 

I love rainwater for my bonsai. SF-OH rain has however hit record levels.

So as a thought, is there an overflow?

 

Yes Coppice... there's a good sized gap for any excess rain.