Rain Barrels

I decided over the winter that it would be nice to have some rain barrels to collect rain so I wouldn't have to use tap water. Instead of spending 60+ dollars each plus shipping, I build my own tandem barrel system for around $100. I used barrels from where I work (they contained powdered aluminum previously), coated them with rubberized coating (do-it-yourself bedliner for pickuptrucks), and jury-rigged various plumbing fittings.

That's a pretty cool setup, do you have a garden or alot of plants?
Here when it rains I line up all of my plants under the roof or will use my fishtank water when I do waterchanges.
What is powdered aluminum used for? (just curious)

Very nice! I really admire this kind of ingenuity!

Ooo that's so great. I love it.

My garden is kind of spread out and I used to have to water it with city water by carrying a sprinkling can back and forth several dozen times.

Powdered Aluminum is an ingredient used in the production of welding electrodes (among other things)

Lee Valley Tools carries a faucet that you can install in a rain barrel. I bought one so I could examine the components and then see if I can find them locally and make myself.

My barrels are 55 gallon plastic and this year I am covering with fine screen as I do have a mosquito breeding ground (but I use the mosquito dunks which really help). What did you use as a screen??

Originally Posted by GailC

Lee Valley Tools carries a faucet that you can install in a rain barrel. I bought one so I could examine the components and then see if I can find them locally and make myself.

My barrels are 55 gallon plastic and this year I am covering with fine screen as I do have a mosquito breeding ground (but I use the mosquito dunks which really help). What did you use as a screen??

Click to expand...

I used a regular gate valve for the faucet and fiberglass window screen doubled up for the screen on top. I don't get mosquitoes in the house, so I figure that window screen probably works.