Save the rainwater in a rain barrel and use it to water dead flowers and keep your garden more green than yellow.
Rain come again some other day - this only Johnny could say. With global warming taking its toll, it has become extremely imperative that we receive as much rain as possible. As water sources dry and lose out of water, rain is one natural resource that often goes waste - putting this to use could be one alternative to fight the dearth.
Probably for you and me the notion may sound weird, but the city of Bremerton has promoted an idea of rainwater conservation by use of rain barrels. That sounds uncanny again, ok - rain barrel is a large container, which is set-up to collect and redistribute rainwater.
Rain barrel collects water form your gutters using downspouts and stores for use later, they are easy to make and easy on the environment too. Embedded with a screened louver vent, it is beneficial for plants and other external uses only coz you ain’t gonna consume it, absolutely not - also goes easy on your pocket, saving on your water bill.
Requirement to build one yourself:
• A Drill
• 6′ hole saw
• 29/32′ drill bit
• ¾’ NPT pipe tap
• Hose adaptor
• Teflon tape and apply adhesive caulk
• Louvered screen
Here is how it goes:
• Take a barrel that can store up to 55 gallons of water, and clean it - use nothing that could harm your garden/lawn.
• Cut a hole perfect round hole of about 6′ on the top of the barrel with a 6′ hole saw or a keyhole saw.
• Drill two holes with a 29/32′ drill bit, one around the top for the overflow while the other four to six inches from the bottom for the faucet, this will allow the debris to sink at the bottom of the barrel without clogging.
• Next twist a ¾’ NPT pipe tap into the hole that you have drilled near the mouth, untwist it, and repeat the same in the other hole near the bottom.
• Twist threaded side of the hose adaptor into the overflow hole.
• Wrap the threaded side of the faucet tightly with a Teflon tape and apply all-purpose adhesive caulk on it.
• Twist this prepared end of the faucet into the bottom hole of the barrel.
• Cover the top 6′ hole with a louvered screen. Slide hose into hose adaptor at the top, directing the water to overflow away from your house.
• Place cylindrical blocks under the downspout and cut your downspout about 4′ above the top of the barrel, add an elbow so that water drains into the rain barrel.
Now, probably all is done and it is time for you to wait for the next shower before your plants and you can benefit from the rain barrel.
[Image]
[Source: Cityofbremerton] {PDF}
