Rain barrel system for rain water collection.

This video is of the rain collection system I set up at my home.
It is a dual 50 gallon drum with a screen filter and diverted overflow.

VERY IMPORTANT:
DO NOT DRINK WATER COLLECTED IN THE WAY DEPICTED IN THIS VIDEO.

Parts:

55 gallon plastic barrel (x2)
Flex-a-spout
4"X3" reducer
3"x2" tee
3"45 degree elbow
2"90 degree elbow
2" pipe
3" pipe
3/4" nipple 2" lg. (x2)
zinc hose "Y" w/ shut off valve (x2)
5/8" garden hose
5/8" "female hose mender"
(short hose with 2 female ends would be better than the hose and mender)

plumbers tape
calking
mesh screen

Tools:
bung wrench (optional but very handy)
hacksaw
drill with 5/8" (22mm) spade bit
garden scissors
scissors
screwdriver

Category:

Howto & Style

Tags:

• rain
• barrel
• system
• harvest
• collection
• save
• water
• green
• enviroment
• runoff
• rooftop
• conserve
• storm
• drain
• watershed

[hoz49]

Have you had or heard of ANY problems with the plastic barrels splitting or leaking bec ause they are stacked on their sides? I'm starting my system and want to lay them on their sides.

[denyconfirmation]

@hoz49

I have had it set up for two years now and no signs of any problems, or deformation, I used thread tape on the bungs, tightened with a bung wrench, and calked the seal around it. I've had some drips but only from loose hoses, easy fixes.

[RobertMOdell]

Have you thought of adding a filtration system in order to produce drinking water?

[hoz49]

@denyconfirmation Thx 4 the reply. I'm using 4 barrels in a row on their sides, no stacking on top. I think the problem with splitting is when they are stacked 2 rows up without additional support for the top row. The plastic barrels are not like metal barrels.

[coffeeandaview]

this is so simple.. I was about to PVC my rain barrells, and had just repaired three water hoses.. I thought this was great... and if I had to I could open a valve for extra over flow.. this works for me. thanks,

[griffrs]

This is an elegant solution to the major problems with using closed-head drums for rain barrels. Thanks for posting this.