How to Build a Rain Barrel

In response to a request, here is a brief tutorial on how to build a rain barrl.

Category:

Education

Tags:

• Fort
• Hays
• State
• University
• Rain
• Barrel
• How
• To
• Water
• Conservation
• Agriculture
• Tiger
• Tigers
• Kansas
• College
• Watershed

[2CUSING]

It is the Best demo for the rain barrel.

I have a hard time finding a Bung for 1 1/2 inch hole.Where did you get ?

Thanks for sharing this info.

[forthaysstate]

@2CUSING The bung was purchased at Schaben Industries in Newton, KS. It is a standard polypropylene bung which you should be able to find at any agricultural chemical/tank supply store. In our area we have a farm and home store called Orscheln's and many other farm supply businesses (look for those that sell large plastic storage tanks).

[hawkdlb06]

could you use carbon filter for like a fish tank, to make the water drinkable?

[forthaysstate]

@hawkdlb06 No, a carbon filter is not enough. Carbon filters simply remove organics, not viruses and bacteria. To make this water drinkable you'd be looking at investing a couple thousand dollars for a complete filtration system.

[hedge313]

Where do you get a barrel like that?

[forthaysstate]

@hedge313 Easiest place to look would be a carwash as most soaps come in the 55gal barrels. Otherwise check with a local soda distributing facility.

[foobartours]

It would have been great if a comment from the author was left spelling out the parts. I spent more time running around using gas looking for the proper parts than I did making the rain barrel! Napa Autoparts carries the bulk head fitting although it's actually their 3/4". I initially ordered the 1 1-2" one and it was too huge.

[PineMartyn]

Best demo I've seen yet. Clear as a bell. Thanks.

[petyanca]

@foobartours thanks for the bulkhead info, it would be close to impossible to find correct name for the "bung"

[foobartours]

I already had a spare barrel we picked up for $25.00 for another use over a year ago and repurposed it for this project. You really need a good hammer drill at least for the top. If you don't have one, that's an additional cost for the project. My total cost = $19.00 + 25.00 + 10.00 = $54.00 Rain barrel in the store on sale about $60.00. Do you really save? Hmmmmm...considering gas prices.

[foobartours]

Their part number was TP 34 P-E. The PVC part for the top is actually a 3 to 4" increaser (not decreaser). The cheapest place to buy the hole saw bits were at Harbor Freight. The ball valve was a 3/4" ball valve

I used 2 nipples instead of 1 nipple and hose adapter...it functions the same. Those were 3/4" X 2 inch nipples. A 4" hose clamp.

[derrickito]

if you put a water diverter with overflow on the downspout itself, then you wouldn't have to build an overflow system out of your rain barrel. the diverter would stop the water from going into the system once full instead of constantly putting water in and out of the system

[ViCPadWebPortal]

Thanks for Sharing this Clip... ! Will help many People out there to follow your advice ! Thanks :) Keep up the good work... Post us if you create more Coold & Helpful Clips :)

[fdunken]

Bulk head