How To Create a Home Rain Barrel System

The practice of conserving and collecting rainwater dates back to ancient times. During the older days, a container made out of clay was used as rainwater storage. These collected waters were saved for use during the dry season. At present, people are encouraged to install a water barrel or rain barrel to prevent potential drought, which we might experience unless we stop mining our aquifiers, and to reduce storm runoffs.

Faced with the current economic situation, gardening and growing vegetables in your yard may provide alternative income and food supply that would help you in sustaining your family needs. But, these activities require a considerable amount of water, which could be heavy on the pocket too. With a rain barrel installed, you can grow vegetables and other useful plants in your garden and without suffering from the monthly electric bill.

Prices of rain barrels depend on their materials, size, quality and style. Plastic barrels are the most widely used type. These rain catchers are made of recycled plastic. They are inexpensive, simple and easy to install so that even you can do it.

Here’s how:

1. Find the most convenient spot for your barrel. For most, the best spot is right under the gutter. Connect the barrels downspout to the gutter.
2. Make sure that rain barrel is placed on a hard and balanced surface to prevent it from falling over, as it gets heavier from catching rainwater. The barrel should be a couple of inches higher than the ground to put higher pressure on the flow of water.
3. Position the overflow hose of the barrel in the landscape, garden or wherever you want. The rain barrel hose can be cut or extended according to your need.

Another alternative in rain barrels is the home built barrel. A personally created rain catcher is cheap.  The materials needed are often available in the house. Only a few materials are required in creating your own rain barrel, and some of them are plastic food jugs, drills, a hose, faucet, Teflon tape, a screen and some other accessories. What makes it less convenient is that not everybody has the time or the skill to do it.

Some other things that you have to consider when you install rain barrels are:

• Roofing materials. Rainwater would most likely be collected from the roofs, which are sometimes made from toxic materials. Roofs manufactured from untreated wood shingles, terra cotta tile, concrete, slate, copper and epoxy-painted metal can be collected and use to water your vegetable garden.
• Safety. Finding the safest place to install your barrel, especially if there are kids around who could crawl and reach the barrels.

With a rain barrel installed in your backyard, another question is yet to be answered—how to keep the rain barrel insect and mosquito free?

Here are some useful tips that you can use.

• Regularly clean the gutter to where the downspout is connected.
• Prevent mosquitoes, insects and debris from entering your barrel by putting a screen on top of it.
• Regularly clean and dry your water barrel.

Although catching rainwater gives a lot of benefits, it is still not advisable for drinking because it is untreated. So to avoid acquiring illnesses, don’t drink the water that your rain barrel has collected.

Conserve water, save money, save the planet. Install a rain barrel!