Rain Barrels...

[Duckfoot]

I have one that a friend picked up for me... Sadly, she had the spigot installed about a foot up from the bottom so there always water just sitting there in it...

Time to install another spigot...

 

[cellardoor]

I have one that a friend picked up for me... Sadly, she had the spigot installed about a foot up from the bottom so there always water just sitting there in it...

Time to install another spigot...

Have you learned nothing from brewing? That problem begs for a diptube and a piece of hose on the spigot to keep the water flowing.

 

[pen25]

join the two together so as one fills they both fill. use a 4" joint.

 

[EvilTOJ]

Jesus H Roosevelt Christ $60 each? I got two 55 gallon barrels that used to have teriyaki sauce in them for 12.50 a piece! I need to get to hooking those up to my gutterspouts.

 

[Laughing_Gnome_Invisible]

I use my fish pond as a rain barrel. I have a spigot plumbed into my waterfall pump installation so I can attach a hose for watering the garden. The garage roof fills the pond back up for me. It always gives me a glow of smugness getting free water.

I also have a spigot in the garage on that pump installaition. I could use it to run my IC (but I don't yet) My IC water also goes into the pond for storage. Of course, when the weather gets dry I will have to top it up from the hose sometimes.

I still have a spare 55 gallon drum that I may install somewhere. I've held on to an old dustbin lid that fits it perfectly for a mosquito blocker.

 

[Evan!]

Jesus H Roosevelt Christ $60 each? I got two 55 gallon barrels that used to have teriyaki sauce in them for 12.50 a piece! I need to get to hooking those up to my gutterspouts.

It's not a bad price for something that comes pre-outfitted with the spigot, overflow outlet and screened top. And delivered to my door.

 

[EvilTOJ]

Ah I see. I have just the barrel, and that's it. I still need to buy the spigots, screen to keep the skeeters out, and work out something for overflow.

 

[Schlenkerla]

Sadly, I tried to do this in Parker CO. Some busybody, nosy a$$ bastage looked over a fence before I got everything buried and hidden. Friendly local police sargeant paid me a courtesy visit and said I had to remove them or I would be fined and could face other problems.

I was going to bury them at all my backyard downspouts and pump the water out as needed for lawn and garden.


Western states water laws are JACKED UP!

I would have kept them stashed in the garage.

Next I would have bought six kiddie pools and put them in my backyard. Then say what the fark you gonna do now?

I'd have six submersible pumps with hoses going to the drums.

 

[alex_wilkosz]

as an architecture grad student it is awesome to see you all interested in this use of "grey water" i currently am working on a project with a flat green roof to grow vegetables through hydroponic water uses to quickly grow vegetables. the excess water not used in the system and that goes through the system is then being entered into my grey water system to use in toilets, and industrial sinks, then the rest of it is being used in my air conditioning system to use the water as a cooling option.

 

[TxBrew]

We have a pretty nice rain collection system. We also store our washing machine water and dishwasher as we use biodegradable soap then use that water with a soaker for the yard. If I built a house water consumption would be a big part of it. Using rain water to fill the toilets and collecting shower and sink water to use for yard purposes. Just have to use biodegradable soap and keep it away from the garden.

 

[Evan!]

We got our first real rainstorm last night since I installed the barrels. Wasn't quite sure how long it'd take to fill up one of the barrels, so this was a test to see whether it was okay to hook both barrels up to this one downspout and still collect enough water. Well, I'm happy to report that even with the moderate rain we got last night, the first barrel is full and overflowing through the overflow hose. Now I just need to find a coupling so I can daisy-chain it to the second one.

 

[flyangler18]

Sweet! We had a good rainfall last night here too, and I was thinking 'dammit, why don't I have those barrels yet?'.

 

[kjung]

SWMBO and I have been talking about getting rain barrels. We already have a well pump that we use for our garden, and by adding a rain barrel or two, we could drop our water bill quite a bit.
Thinking about getting cheap plastic garbage cans, and installing spigots in those.

 

[Saccharomyces]

It always gives me a glow of smugness getting free water.

Aaah, so that's it. I always wondered where that came from.

 

[conpewter]

We got our first real rainstorm last night since I installed the barrels. Wasn't quite sure how long it'd take to fill up one of the barrels, so this was a test to see whether it was okay to hook both barrels up to this one downspout and still collect enough water. Well, I'm happy to report that even with the moderate rain we got last night, the first barrel is full and overflowing through the overflow hose. Now I just need to find a coupling so I can daisy-chain it to the second one.

I'm trying to figure out how to easily do this with two barrels myself. I have 2 55 gallon drums, and I can make the overflow go into the 2nd one. But when I get a pump (I was using gravity last year) I can only pump out of one barrel at a time. I suppose I could just live with it, though I've been contemplating just having a connection at the bottom of both barrals to connect them together, has to be good and water tight though.

Just had a thought.... Run a hose up and over between the two barrels. Once they both fill up with water the hose will be full of water (might need some help the first time) and as you drain the second barrel it will create a siphon to bring water from the first. As long as you never drain the barrels completely and the hose goes near the bottom of both barrels it should always keep the level the same between barrels.

 

[Evan!]

I'm trying to figure out how to easily do this with two barrels myself. I have 2 55 gallon drums, and I can make the overflow go into the 2nd one. But when I get a pump (I was using gravity last year) I can only pump out of one barrel at a time. I suppose I could just live with it, though I've been contemplating just having a connection at the bottom of both barrals to connect them together, has to be good and water tight though.

Just had a thought.... Run a hose up and over between the two barrels. Once they both fill up with water the hose will be full of water (might need some help the first time) and as you drain the second barrel it will create a siphon to bring water from the first. As long as you never drain the barrels completely and the hose goes near the bottom of both barrels it should always keep the level the same between barrels.

I see no reason why you couldn't just install bulkheads with simple hose connections near the bottom of each barrel, then connect them that way.

 

[spitfire]

I see no reason why you couldn't just install bulkheads with simple hose connections near the bottom of each barrel, then connect them that way.

Just do what is said above using a garden hose. Then on top use a larger tube for the overflow into the other barrel. That is what i will be doing and you will never have to switch over to pump the other barrel.

 

[conpewter]

I see no reason why you couldn't just install bulkheads with simple hose connections near the bottom of each barrel, then connect them that way.

I guess my concern is leaks, even a slow drip will empty the barrels before I get to use most of the water. I do need to make sure my overflow will be big enough, and then overflow to the yard.

 

[MrShake]

I should take pictures of my setup... it deals with a lot of this stuff.

Our main collection is 3 barrels off of 1 downspout on our house. At the bottom (same height as the spigots) we installed brass nipple with the same OD as the ID of standard garden hose. all three barrels are connected in series this way, therefor keeping the level of the barrels the same. We did put spigots on each barrel in case we needed to empty it for a clog or some other reason.

We used 55gallon olive oil barrels, and with the right sized hole drilled, the brass fittings cut their own threads and we ended up with watertight connections. Give it a try!

 

[Evan!]

Anyone know of a relatively inexpensive (~$100) pump that will move this water uphill?

 

[GilaMinumBeer]

I'd look at pond pumps from the big box hardware stores but, you'll need to know the head height for this to do any good.

 

[eriktlupus]

this will last longer than any pond pump made Shur-Dri® Submersible Utility Pump, 1/3 HP*, 2160 GPH - 3125257 | Tractor Supply Company

 

[Evan!]

this will last longer than any pond pump made Shur-Dri® Submersible Utility Pump, 1/3 HP*, 2160 GPH - 3125257 | Tractor Supply Company

Well, I have a submersible sump pump, but I'm looking for an inline pump. I don't really think opening up the barrels and dunking the submersible pump in there is the way to go. I see this one from TSC as well...more expensive, but looks like it will do the trick, and I won't be pumping it anywhere near 20 feet high.

 

[Evan!]

I'd look at pond pumps from the big box hardware stores but, you'll need to know the head height for this to do any good.

that utility pump has 20 feet of head.

 

[eriktlupus]

evan! i wasa gonna post the link to that inline but you did say under a 100. i'm pretty sure i've seen one in my local for around 60 that's the same design as that one.

 

[MrShake]

- Harbor Freight Tools - Quality Tools at the Lowest Prices

I've had my eye on this one at Harbor Freight for a while.... I just need to pull the trigger.

 

[Evan!]

- Harbor Freight Tools - Quality Tools at the Lowest Prices

I've had my eye on this one at Harbor Freight for a while.... I just need to pull the trigger.

harbor freight FTW...for $40, might as well try it out. Thanks, shakey!:rockin:

 

[IrregularPulse]

Curious as too all the uses for this water. SWMBO called as I was reading this thread and I mentioned it to her. She seems to be on board. I can get 55G barrel across the Street from the office for $5 off a farm. But I'm assuming they held farming chemicals. Would this be a big deal to use for watering plants/yard/hops/garden dogs bowls?

 

[MrShake]

harbor freight FTW...for $40, might as well try it out. Thanks, shakey!:rockin:

Glad to help Evan!...!!

 

[Evan!]

Curious as too all the uses for this water. SWMBO called as I was reading this thread and I mentioned it to her. She seems to be on board. I can get 55G barrel across the Street from the office for $5 off a farm. But I'm assuming they held farming chemicals. Would this be a big deal to use for watering plants/yard/hops/garden dogs bowls?

Yes, probably. I paid $60/each for mine, they're old olive barrels, came outfitted with screw-one screened lids, overflow connex, and spigots (plus my city is giving $30 rebates for rain barrels now, so they'll end up being $30/ea) I wouldn't use anything that's had farm chemicals in it! The Rain Barrel Company might deliver to you...they come from Raleigh. Can't hurt to ask.

We use them mainly for watering plants and for the initial wash water in our laundry.