| Most of us take water for granted until it doesn't rain | | | | to keep leaves out then you won't need to worry |
| for a month or two and the city asks you to stop | | | | about a filter for the barrel. Usually it is a good idea |
| watering your lawn and garden. One of the best | | | | to raise the barrel up off the ground by putting it on |
| ways to help guard against this is by recycling | | | | cinder blocks. This will help protect the ground |
| rainwater. There are many ways to collect and | | | | underneath and make it easier to recycle the |
| recycle rainwater but one of the best and most cost | | | | rainwater you collect in the rain barrel. You will |
| effective is to setup a simple rain barrel. | | | | undoubtedly have to raise the height of your |
| It is estimated that an inexpensive rain barrel can | | | | downspout as well so that it is slightly above the |
| save you as much as 1000 gallons of water over the | | | | level of the top of the drum. |
| course of a normal summer by simply recycling | | | | Now that we have the drum setup for collecting |
| rainwater. Of course, the exact amount will vary | | | | rainwater, we need to arrange a way to get it out. |
| depending on the amount of rainfall in your area but | | | | The simplest way is to drill a small hole in the lower |
| the savings from recycling rainwater in most cases | | | | side of the drum a couple inches up from the bottom |
| will be substantial. The idea is to position the rain | | | | and glue in a PVC male adaptor then attach a 3 to 4 |
| barrel under a roof drain downspout so that it | | | | foot length of plastic hose to this adaptor. Of course, |
| collects rain running off the roof of your house and | | | | it is important to keep the end of the hose above |
| recycling the rainwater on your plants and lawn as | | | | the top of the barrel so that the barrel doesn't drain. |
| needed. You can buy a ready-made rain barrel but it | | | | You can notch the top rim of the drum as a holder |
| is also very easy and inexpensive to build your own. | | | | for the hose or alternately you can attach a plastic |
| Almost all the materials are available at your local | | | | valve to the end of the hose. Finally, at the end of |
| hardware store. The main item you will need is a | | | | the hose you will want to attach a plastic adaptor |
| large plastic drum. Getting one is not as difficult as it | | | | that allows the attachment of a standard garden |
| may seem. Most soft drink manufacturers around the | | | | hose. This setup will use gravity to drain the drum. |
| world are willing to sell you an inexpensive 55 gallon | | | | To use the rainwater collected simply put the end of |
| plastic drum. Usually the plastic drum you get will have | | | | the garden hose on the ground you intend to water, |
| its top sealed so you will have to drill a hole in the | | | | open the valve if you used one and the drum will |
| middle top of the drum. Many people will put a screen | | | | self-drain out the end of the garden hose. To stop |
| or other type of filter over this hole so that leaves | | | | the flow either close the valve or raise the end of |
| and other debris do not get into the rain barrel. If | | | | the garden hose above the top level of the drum. |
| your roof gutter system already has grills or screens | | | | |