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Save money while helping the environment with this rustic, wine barrel water collector.
Thanks go to Chris & Michri Barnes for the original article in MAKE, Volume 18.
To download The Barrel Water Collector click here or subscribe in iTunes.
Check out the complete Barrel Water Collector article in MAKE, Volume 18
and you can see that in our Digital Edition.
Weekend Project: Barrel Water Collector
Posted by KipKay |
Aug 28, 2009 05:01 AM
MAKE Podcast, MAKE Video, Weekend Projects |
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I have a small container garden that I currently water with a timer connected to the water faucet on the side of the house. I plan on doing something like this for next season but I will be using a battery operated pump and timer and the batteries topped off via solar panels to make it as worry free as possible.
Great stuff Kip!
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it's more just like a storage barrel with a pump on top. the top of a barrel doesn't have much surface area to collect water, probably would have some usefulness if you connect some hoses from your gutters to your barrel intake.
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My Dad has one of these setup to fill from the downspout on the house, but when its full theres a small cutout on the side about 4 inches down from the top where the water can spill out freely to the lane via attached pipe and a standard tap about 4 inches up from the bottom attached to a 'soaker' hose that runs in the flower garden. When he wants to water he just turns on the tap for 20-30 mins and its done!
A soaker hose is a normal hose of any lenght with 1/8in holes drilled every 6 inchs on oppostie sides and plugged at the end. Works like a charm and can be customised for flow at anypoint with more or less holes.
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Be sure to check you local laws before starting a project like this. In some areas you do not own the rainwater that falls on your property and is illegal to collect it.
sources:
http://planetsave.com/blog/2008/07/22/who-does-rainwater-belong-to/
http://www.popularmechanics.com/science/earth/4314447.htm
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Very interesting information. Who would have ever thought a crazy law like that could possibly be passed.
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Very nice project! I live in Holland, and it is not uncommon here for people to have a barrel collecting rainwater from the gutters. However, in the colder climates be aware what frozen water does to your barrel: break it!
Empty your barrel just before freezing periods start, otherwise the freezing of the water will break your barrel. Especially the ones that are wider in the middle and narrower on top and bottom. The frozen water will not automatically freeze upwards and outwards if you would leave the lid off.
Also, once summer starts, the first while, the barrel will leak. A lot, as the wood has contracted in the cold. After a few good showers, the wood will have soaked up some water and temperatures cause it to expand and seal again.
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