Build a rain barrel
By David BrooksFrom the September 2008 issue of Boys' Life magazine
Conserve water by collecting rainwater and using it for your garden or lawn.
WHAT YOU’LL NEED
- Recycled food barrel (try checking with large restaurants or food distributors)
- 2 to 4 concrete blocks (to allow room for a bucket to fit under the spigot)
- 3/4-inch hose spigot
- Drill
- Saber saw
- 3/4 x 1-1/4-inch threaded pipe nipple (used as overflow connector)
- Window screen
- PVC cement
WHAT YOU’LL DO
1. Wash out the barrel with a solution of 1/8-cup bleach and 5 gallons of water.
2. Drill a 15/16-inch hole a few inches from the bottom of the barrel. Thread the spigot halfway into the barrel, apply PVC cement onto the threads and continue screwing it in until snug.
3. Using the same procedure as the spigot, install the 3/4-inch overflow connector a few inches from the top of the barrel.
4. Choose a good spot for the rain barrel. It needs to be close to a rain downspout and a short distance from your plants and gardens.
5. Raise the barrel off the ground by placing it on concrete blocks. Reconfigure the downspout so it empties directly into the barrel. Use the screen to cover the open hole in the barrel to prevent insects or debris from getting in.
6. If you’ve installed an overflow, you can attach a hose and direct the water to another part of your yard.
One problem, Mission Viejo dosen’t get much rain!
This sounds like a great way to go green!
to sniper: LoL!!
Wow! Neat Idea!
cool i will talk to my faimly about it
mine got zapped by lighting!!!!!!!!
Mabye you can try again
really good project gonna try it and post the out come
Great project. I built one. How about a hovercraft project?
not sure if itll work… it might leak
great…i like to see this article
Looks great
where will I get a barrels? from a store.
where will I get a barrels from a store
where will i get a barrels
I bet lowes as some barrels cause after all lowes knows
I would love to conserve water, but this is a lot tougher than it sounds. Be careful on this one… it’s super tricky!
This is a great project guys! It may take a little time and effort to get the stuff to do it, but ask your parents or another adult for help and it will be much easier to get the parts.
Car washes, restaurants, pickle processors all will have these barrels. Just look around. You’ll be surprised.
go green!!!
cool status
its kind of nerdy but cool
You can get your rain barrel at a full service car wash.
this is so fun
Higuy, It Says Ask A Resturant!!
cool )= -o
Im going to start to build this today. What a way to conserve water!!!!
this is really cool i never thought to do this this is a really good idea i really like it. i am going to build one for my family
Wow! Sounds great! Mabey I can make one in less a hour!
wow maybe i can get my awesome troop leader to get my aesome troop members to do this
i think it is a totally rad way of saving H2O
this is fun
man how do i get all that stuff
this is very cool and very usefull
this is a great project.yes , i am green.i agree w/higuy-where will i get a barrel?
Where should I get a barrel?
looks like im the first one
not what i expected