Rain Barrel Project (Water for the Garden)

Rain barrels have been used for hundreds of years to collect rain water and use it for a variety of domestic purposes. In the US, this source of water is used mostly to water landscape and garden plants. However, rain water can also be used for drinking purposes if it is first filtered and treated to get rid of solid debris and biological contaminants. A good source of information about rain water and the use of Rain Barrels can be found at the web link http://www.rainbarrelguide.com/ . Although the article shows the approximate amount of rainfall collected on a roof, you can get better estimates at the following web link http://www.greenbuilder.com/sourcebook/RainwaterGuide2.html#TABLE3.0 .
From Table 3 of this article, it has been calculated that one inch of rain falling on a 1000 square foot roof area will capture 562 gallons of water. That would be about 28 gallons of water per inch of rain for the 50 square foot roof and rain barrel project described below.

The average rainfall for Wilmington,MA is about 48 inches and evenly distributed over 12 months or about 4 inches per month. See link for average rainfalls http://www.idcide.com/weather/ma/wilmington.htm Since one inch of rain from the 50 sf. roof system described below will almost fill a rain barrel, this would produce about 4 rain barrels full of water per month or about one per week. With some conservation measures this amount of water is enough to irrigate a small 20’x30’ garden. Most plants only need about one cup of water per week.

Rain barrels can be purchased online and shipped to your home with most costing about $100 and up. You then have to buy a hose kit that attaches to a catchment system that funnels the water off a roof into the barrel. Some rain barrel types and costs can be seen at the web link http://www.cleanairgardening.com/rainbarrels.html .

However, you can build a simple rain barrel system with supplies found at the local hardware store or other retailers such as Lowes ( http://lowes.com/) . A list of the needed items is found below and can be purchased for about $50 including rain barrel and catchment system.

Items Needed: (Item and Model Numbers From Lowes.Com Online Source)
1- Corrugated Hose (Universal Sump Pump Drain Kit, (Item #: 189255, Model: 56171-LWS1, 8.97), 1- Vinyl Trash Can, 32 Gallon,(Item #: 227199, Model: 3405152BL, $12.74), 5 - Gutter Brackets, (Item #: 13777, Model: AW106, $2.38 = $11.90) , Left Gutter End Cap White, Item # 12496, Model # AW201A, $2.04, Right Gutter End Cap White, Item # 161550, Model # AW102Z, $2.04 , 1- Vinyl Gutter, 10 ft., (Item #: 13720, Model: AW100, $5.86), and Latex Adhesive Caulk, Item # 219873, Model # 11530, $2.24

Photos of the completed Rain Barrel System attached to a small yard shed (8 x 12 ft) can be seen at the web link http://picasaweb.google.com/markryan312/RainBarrels6108 .

Instructions:
1. Attach gutter brackets to face board on the eave of a shed roof. The brackets need to be spaced a couple feet apart to support the gutter. Each bracket has to be a quarter inch lower as it nears the down spout end so that the rain water will run along the gutter to that end.
2. Using a saw hole bit, drill a 1 ¼ in hole in the vinyl gutter about 4 inches from the end.
3. From the sump pump hose kit, find the smaller threaded hose attachment and screw the threaded end into the gutter 1 ¼ inch hole. (The corrugated hose will be attached here later.)
4. Slide the gutter into the attached brackets along the roof eave. Catch the front and back of each bracket with the gutter.
5. Attach the left and right gutter end caps.
6. Drill a 1 ¼ inch hole in the middle of the barrel cover.
7. Measure the distance from the gutter to the barrel and cut the corrugated hose to approximately this length at the nearest joint.
8. Attach one end of hose to the gutter down spout and secure it with a water hose clamp from the kit.
9. Attach the other end of the hose to the barrel cover by using the other larger threaded hose attachment inside the barrel cover.
10. Take up any slack in the hose by turning it in an (S) shape and tying it with plastic ties along its length. (See photos for visual illustration.) You can also cut hose to exact length.
11. Use silicone caulking at the gutter end caps and the down spout hole to prevent water leaks.
12. Test the system by pouring some water into the gutter to see that it runs to the hole end and down the hose to the barrel. Use a watering can to scoop water out of the rain barrel and water plants.