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Build Your Own Rain Barrel: DIY Guide to Affordable Rainwater Harvesting

By Sarah Berry, August 14, 2023
Build Your Own Rain Barrel

Over the past 15 years, I've noticed a movement to go back to lifestyles that encourage long-term and sustainable practices. Parents of little ones are opting to use cloth diapers over disposables and make their own baby food. Consumers are consciously choosing to support locally owned businesses because they realize the benefits that they bring to their community. Knitting and crochet groups are suddenly populated by young people that are focused on both being able to make things for themselves in addition to preserving the skill for future generations.

When Covid caused major disruptions in supply chains the world over, it prompted a resurgence in gardening and food preservation for sustenance instead of just enjoyment. Even having backyard chickens became trendy!

I think younger generations are seeing preserving our ecosystems and the planet as a whole as their mission. They recycle, always make use of reusable shopping bags, and shun the use of single-use plastics, and I couldn’t be happier. The best gift that we can give future generations is a healthy environment for them to live in and raise their own families.

If you’re looking to dip your toe into a more environmentally friendly and sustainable lifestyle, but you’re not quite sure where to start, building your own rain barrel is an excellent place to start. It’s simple, customizable, and affordable. One of our employees in Ruckersville, Ross Holtzman, has constructed a way to capture and store rainwater for later use.

Materials you will need are:

Plastic trash can

Bulkhead adapter

Hose bibb

Hole saw

Garden Hose

Optional: 

Downspout C-outlet

Downspout elbow

Downspout diverter

 

Securing the bulkhead in the opening
Securing the bulkhead in the opening

Step 1

Choose where you want your spigot to be on your trash can. Be sure to choose a position that is at least two inches from the bottom of the trash can. Doing this gives any sediment a place to collect and won’t block the flow of water out of the can. Drill a hole that corresponds to the size of your bulkhead. If you don’t have access to a hole saw, a Randy’s Do it Best Hardware employee can cut the opening for you for a small shop fee.

Tightening the hose bibb or spigot
Tightening the hose bibb or spigot

Step 2

Install the bulkhead in the opening, and then screw the hose bibb, or spigot, in the bulkhead. From here, you can connect your garden hose directly to the barrel. If you’re setting up an overflow barrel, you’ll need to cut another hole closer to the top of the barrel and insert a downspout C-outlet. Connect a downspout elbow to the outlet. This will allow any overflow to be redirected into another barrel.

Downspout Diverter
Downspout Diverter

Step 3

Choose the location where you want to install your barrel. You’ll want it near a downspout and on level ground. Build a platform for your rain barrel using bricks or cinder blocks. Placing the barrel on this platform does two things: it stabilizes the barrel, and it uses gravity to create water pressure.

Depending on how you choose to divert water from your downspout, there are some options available. If you want to keep your downspout largely intact, you can buy a diverter. If you’re looking to do this as inexpensively as possible, you can cut your downspout and remove the lower section during the warmer months. During cold weather, you can reapply that section using a flexible elbow. Check out the Conservation Foundation for more information on installing your barrel. If you’re not sure what is right for you, come to your local Randy’s Do it Best Hardware and we will happily help you figure out the best solution for your home.