Got Rain Barrel Questions?
Do you have burning questions about using or installing rain barrels that we haven’t answered?
Let us know, so that we can improve this site!
Leave us a comment with your question, and we’ll do our best to answer it for you. If we don’t know the answer, we’ll look it up!
{ 195 comments… read them below or add one }
I’ve been using an oak wine barrel to collect rainwater since last Fall. This Spring, the water in the barrel (which I filter through coarse gravel) smells terrible. Can I use chemicals to clean it up without endangering the plants I’m watering? If so, what chemicals should I use/or any other cleaning suggestions.
Thanks!
@BarklieZ,
Bleach will help with this problem.
I recommend just a few tablespoons full of bleach at a time. This should help!
http://www.epa.gov/ogwdw/faq/emerg.html
Should green water in a rain barrel be treated? Is it harmful?
Not knowing what you mean by green water I can only assume you mean water that has algae in it. If so then you should drain the barrel and clean it with vinegar and water.
If you mean just water which has come off your roof then it’s not necessary to treat the water if used to water your plants or garden. You should never drink water from your rain barrel.
The algae is good for your garden; don’t do anything to it. The only concern is that mosquitos may breed in it. You can seal the top with window screen or drop “mosquito control” type tablets in.
Can you put mosquito control tablets in the water and still use it for watering plants (including vegetables and mint)?
@Laurie, It depends on which item you plan on using, if using the ones at the link below it will not harm your vegetable plants.
http://www.cleanairgardening.com/mosquito1.html
Do I need to clean the inside of the rainbarrel?
If so, how?
What kind of paint lasts/stays on the outside if I wanted to decorate it?
Nancy,
If the barrel is new and was not used store anything prior to you obtaining it then no, it’s typically not needed. However if the barrel was used to hold pepper or pickles, etc you way want to wash it out with water. Over time the smell will subside.
Remember if the barrel was used to hold a chemical or toxin it should not be used as a rain barrel.
If the barrel has mold in it, you can use vinegar and water to clean it out.
As for painting the barrel, check the label on the paint to be sure it will adhere to plastic, assuming you have a plastic barrel.
How can I safely kill mosquito larve from my rain barrell and still use the water for plants? Thank-you
@DEBI,
Mosquito dunks will kill the larva and not harm the water.
Here is a link to a few options.
http://www.cleanairgardening.com/mosquito1.html
http://www.cleanairgardening.com/mosquitodunks.html
How do I prevent algae from growing in my rain barrel? But I would still like to be able to use the water in my gardening.
Mary,
Keeping your barrel out of the sun and or painting it a dark color will help prevent algae from growing. Also, make sure you have a screen to keep out bugs, leaves and other garbage out.
Using mosquito dunks will help some as well, plus it will keep larva from growing. Occasionally you may need to wipe the inside out with bleach; this will also help prevent algae from growing. Bleach is safe as long as you use only a few spoons full. http://www.epa.gov/ogwdw/faq/emerg.html
why not just put downspout in top of barrel sealed up. why open and with a screen on top?
@Patty Meadors, Fitting the downspout into the barrel is one option; however you will not be able to screen out the debris coming down from the roof. A screen helps keep out leaves, bugs, etc. Many people use the downspout diverter like this one; this allows water to continue down your downspout once the barrel is full.
http://www.cleanairgardening.com/gawadoat.html
hello,
we are looking into putting in a rain barrel. we would like to install one with a small pump so we can use a garden
hose and water anywhere in our yard. i found some pumps at the hardware store that are used in the plastic yard ponds. how many gph would be enough for gardening purposes. a 50ft hose will probably cover most of what we will be watering.
thanks,
Raymond
@Raymond,
We suggest a pump that pumps at around 5 to 10 gallons per minute. Any where in between should be suitable.
Here is a link to a quality pump so you can compare:
http://www.cleanairgardening.com/electric-water-pump.html
I have recently planted a school garden in a site used privously for a garden. There is no water source…..rainbarrel! The roof is flat and no gutters – what do I do to collect water for the waterbarrel?
@Jane Sweet, Even though the roof is flat, it still has to drain. Either check to see where the majority of the water falls and put some gutters there, or have gutters installed all around. Either way, capture as much as possible and this will help with your lack of water.
a burning question. I have a cabin in the woods that has electricity but no running water. I want to be able to shower so… I recently connected a rainbarrel to a downspount on one side of my roof and put a submersible sump pump in the bottom of the rain barrel with a hose that leaves the pump and connects to a shower head and stall inside my cabin so i can take a shower( albeit a cold one) i put screen filters in the downspout an d in the gutter. i plug the sump pump in and the water comes out of the shower head nicely . however , shouldnt i have some kind of filter or chemical in the rainbarrel as it is beginning to smell after a month or so i noticed as the shower runs. the rainbarrel is covered but doesnt water get stagnant in the rain barrel . i only go there on weekneds for the summer and the water is sitting in the rainbarrel for a long period . what kind of filter or additive should i add to my rain barrel or what kind of filter should i use so that the water that i shower with doesnt smell or harm me. thankyou.
@Laura
The EPA recommends using bleach to treat water for drinking, so I’m sure it would be safe for showering. I don’t think you’d need to treat it to drinking water levels, so it probably wouldn’t require as much bleach.
http://www.epa.gov/safewater/faq/emerg.html
I also found this interesting link, but I can’t vouch for accuracy.
http://www.survivaltopics.com/survival/better-than-bleach-use-calcium-hypochlorite-to-disinfect-water/
@Laura
There’s a large chance you won’t reply to this because it’s been 2 years since you posted this comment, but I am very interested in the system you designed for your shower. I’m a student in high school and we’re doing a rain catcher project in physics, and I thought it would be cool to make a shower with one; that’s when I came across your comment. If you happen to read this within the next week and a half, could you e-mail me telling me how you designed your shower with the sump pump?
Thanks!
I want to use my rain barrel to water my lawn. What is best to increase the pressuse so I can use the water through my sprinkler? A pump of some kind? Does anyone have any experience with this?
@John,
The best way to increase water pressure is to raise the height of the barrel, however to water a lawn with a sprinkler you will not be able to raise it high enough. You can use a water pump like this one, (http://www.cleanairgardening.com/electric-water-pump.html) however unless you have a rather large rain barrel or multiple barrels linked together I doubt you will have enough water. The best use of a rain barrel is to water flowers and shrubs around the house.
I hope this info helps.
I want to replace my well water during spring, summer, fall with rainwater how can make this connection to my plumbing…. we got 35 yrs of BAD well never drink the stuff ; sic of salt bags expense and work of….winter we get plenty of snow too.
@Mary Gilligan,
If I understand your question, you want to direct your rain water directly into your plumbing. Please keep in mind rain water may not be the best water to drink, since it comes off your roof it would like be contaminated, by dirt, bird droppings, etc.
If you were to clean it you still have the problem of building up the necessary pressure to supply your house with water. I imagine you would need at least 20 psi.
I suggest you contact a local plumber and see if they can help with what you have in mind.
There are tiny little creatures in my rain barrel that resemble tadpoles. What are they? I don’t have a screen over my barrel.
@Connie, The tiny creatures are likely mosquito larva. I suggest a screen and some mosquito dunks.
http://www.cleanairgardening.com/mosquito1.html
What do you know about the toxicity of the roofing materials (I have a composition roof) in the water that has come off the roof to the rain barrels? Also, do plastic rain barrels off gas?
@anita,
I imagine your rain water is already draining onto your grass and flower beds, so redirecting it to a rain barrel will just allow you to direct it to a specific area. As long as you are not drinking it it will not harm your lawn, garden, etc.
Do I have to drain my rain barrel before it freezes? Will freezing and winter harm my “plastic” rainbarrel?
@Lois Lombard, Leave the spigot open so the water does not collect during a freeze will keep it from being damaged.
It’s day 2 of rainy season and my barrel is already full… with about 8 months to go. Given that it’s rained for 2 days straight, I don’t need the water for my yard. Any advice? Can I get multiple barrels and stockpile over the (Seattle) winter?
How do the barrels work in the winter with freezing? The area gets about 6 inches of rain a year, but about always some snow.
@Jay Bell, If you are in an area that which freezes you should either divert your downspout so the rain barrel does not receive the water, or leave the valve open so the water drains out. If you do not take one of these steps you risk having your barrel bust or crack do to the expansion of water when it freezes.
Hi! I have read your instructions on winterizing our rain barrel and plan on doing it soon. My question is if I drain the water from our rain barrel into a separate sealed food grade plastic container and keep it in the garage will it still be ok to be used next season? We were concerned of something possibly making the water “rancid” or un-safe to use if kept over the winter. Thanks in advance for any help!
@Angela, Yes, you can store the water. You can add a tablespoon of bleach so it does not mold or mildew. The EPA recommends using bleach to treat water. http://www.epa.gov/safewater/faq/emerg.html
I also found this interesting link, but I can’t vouch for accuracy.
http://www.survivaltopics.com/survival/better-than-bleach-use-calcium-hypochlorite-to-disinfect-water/
Is a rain barrel beneficial to someone who gets their water from a well? Would taking the rain away from the ground cause your well to not get as much water and maybe even dry it up?
@Draqe Greer, Assuming you not going to collect all the water that falls from your roof top you should be fine, and even if you did it is very unlikely you would ever notice it. Your ground water is likely feed by several sources.
Hi there – great resource. How high should the rain barrel be mounted in order to have enough pressure to water our vegetable gardens via a hose or soak-hoses? Thanks!
@Tracy, It really depends on the distance and diameter of the hose. Typically you want to get it has high as you can without compromising safety. If you can get it at least 2 feet off the ground, it should work, any higher you will need to make sure the rain barrel is secure.
Just added a new deck with a roof overhang. Is it safe to put a rain barrel on a deck attached to my house or due to the weight, must it be on the ground level? Is their a size limit if I put it on the deck? If I put it on the ground, can I still attach a hose and have enough pressure to water the planters on my deck which is about 3 foot off the ground. Thanks.
@Elizabeth,
Placing a rain barrel on your deck is possible, but it really depends on the size of the barrel and the strength of your deck. I suggest you talk to the builders of the deck and see if the area you plan to place the barrel is suitable to hold a rain barrel. Let them know the size and appox weight. Keep in mind a gallon of water weighs approx 8.4 lbs so a 50 gallon rain barrel would weigh roughly 420 lbs plus the weight of the rain barrel. It is possible if the builders do not think it will hold the weight, they can reinforce the area.
Regarding the hose question, I doubt you would have enough pressure to water the plants. You would need to fill a watering can.
My husband is just building a new house and the client wants the best of everything. The house is large, and would a water barrell system would work vey well. However he is not sure whether treated cedar shingles will effect the water. Not knowing exactly what the client wants to use the water for; organic gardening etc. Do treated shingles have a big impact on the water in the barrells??
thx D
@Donna, The water from your roof with traditional shingles or cedar will be fine for the plants. Keep in mind, the water is going to drain off your roof whether you collect it or not. As long as it is being used to water plants and not as drinking water you will be fine.
Our two rain barrels are over flowing like mad given the rain we are having here in the N.W. Both barrels are in the back yard and close to the house. Could we have foundation damage over time with the run off from the barrels so close to the house? If so how does one go about draining them during our wet months. Should we stop collecting water during heavy rains? The idea of storing five gallon pails in the yard to save water for spring and summer is not all that inviting.
Thanks much. djm
@diane, Yes, it could begin to cause problems. I suggest you use a diverter like the Garden Watersaver. This device will divert the water back down your downspout when the barrel is full.
http://www.cleanairgardening.com/gawadoat.html
I already have a micro-irrigation system in place in my garden, which covers about 100 sq feet. I intend to just use the polytubing and not the microtubes or drippers to water my garden with a rain barrel. Do you think this set up would be appropriate for rain barrel use.
@John, Yes, it will likely work assuming the tips are for drip irrigation and low pressure. You may need to elevate the rain barrel to increase the water pressure.
Help! My rain barrel is full, yet will not drain. It worked fine up until the water levels reached 3/4 full and up. It does have two hose connecters up near the top to allow air in….I purchased it locally at our Whole Foods last year.
Richmond, VA
@Joann, I image its plugged, try disconnecting the hose and see if there is a screen. It may be clogged.
What studies have been done on rainwater collected from an asphalt roof as well as being used in a vegetable garden. If you can direct me to these studies, that would be great!!
@Lily, I found this study, see the third page with the paragraph titled asphalt. They have come to the same conclusion I have, that it is safe on your plants.
http://www.ose.state.nm.us/water-info/conservation/pdf-manuals/Roof-Reliant-Landscaping/RRL-Chapter-7.pdf
Hello,
I have a 7,500 square foot lot, and I use about 195,000 gallons of water per year for landscape irrigation. A single 63-gallon rain barrel will supply 0.00032227 percent of my annual water needs, making it necessary for me to have 3,103 barrels to meet those needs. They will take up over a quarter acre of land if placed side-by-side. My lot is only about .17 acres, and the house and garden take it all up. Do you have any suggestions?
Thank you.
@Owen
That’s a different scale of rainwater harvesting, and you should consider something like a cistern or above ground tank instead:
http://www.texasrainwatertanks.com/
According to my calculations you are watering an average of 8.4 inches per week; I would guess either you are over watering or trying to grow something not appropriate for your climate.
Are you growing cattails in the dessert?
Mike – I’m chiming in a little late on this thread, but my calculations differ. 195,000 gallons is 26,068 cubic feet. 0.17 acres is 7,405 square feet, so I’ll take the stated 7,500 square feet. Thus, 26,068 cu.ft. / 7,500 sq.ft. = 3.52 feet per year = 0.8 inches per week. I don’t have any background in the subject but I just looked it up and an “Evapotranspiration Rate” (which dictates your irrigation requirements) of 0.8″ per week seems pretty reasonable. I’m not sure how you came to 8.4 inches per week.
Owen – The real issue is, if you don’t have enough rainfall to irrigate the land, and you can’t get water from outside that area of land, then you’ll never have enough water. What the storage will do is store the excess from the rainy days (season) and allow you to use if for irrigation in the dryer periods.
In this case, if the average yearly rainfall is less than 0.8 inches per day the irrigation water will have to be supplemented. Of course, that would assum you can collect all excess water from the full land area. What do you really need to look at (I’ll assume you can only reasonably collect water from your roof)?
1. Look at the average yearly rainfall to find out how many gallons can be collected from the roof and that will tell you if you can manage the irrigation.
2. Note that you only need enough storage to see you through the dry period until the next rainy season (with a safety margin.)
3. Whatever you’re lacking in rainfall will need to be made up with a well, municipal water or other source.
I know you’re being smart, but actually your math is wrong. A 63 gallon barrel will give you more than 63 gallons per year meaning you won’t need 3,103 barrels for your ANNUAL water consumption.
Owen, You wouldn’t be using 195,000 gallons (seems like a lot, consider drought tolerant plantings next time!) of water all at once. Recalculate.
Hi,
I’m looking to add some rain barrels to our yard to help with our water bill and be more environmentally conscience. What is the best type of rain barrel? Do you have any specific ones you might recommend? What other pieces of equipment might I need and what other considerations do I need to be wary of? I am looking at collapsible ones and wondered if they work as well as wooden or other material ones.
Thanks so much!
Ashley
@Ashley, The start with a sealed barrel, this way small children and animals cannot fall in and drown. Here is a link to some suggestions: http://www.cleanairgardening.com/rain-barrel-buyers-guide.html
You may need a pump to add to the water pressure. Keep in mind the collapsible ones are convenient and less expensive however, in some circumstances safety and durability can be an issue.
Is rain water collected in plastic 32 gal trash cans (Rubbermaid) suitable for watering a vegetable garden or do I have to worry about plastic toxic chemicals leaching out into the water. Some of the water has been stored for about a year or two.
Thanks,
Dan
@Dan Molina, It’s possible the water has algae in it now. You may want to dump it and start again. I doubt it will cause you any problems. One thing to consider, water in an open barrel can be a hazard to small children or pets. If you have not already, you need to cover the cans with a lid so someone or something cannot fall in it and drown.
I recently bought 3 barrels that used to hold “step sept” a cleaning material for cow and horse hoofs. They are rated “grade 2.” Are they okay to use as rain barrels to water our garden?
@Scott, I believe grade 2 indicates the type of plastic used. While they would work well for holding rain water not knowing what is in the cleaning agent I would error on the side of caution. If it’s non-toxic then it should be fine. Try contacting the manufacturer.
I’m attempting to water my 12′ by 5′ raised garden bed with two rain barrels on the downspout closest to it. The garden bed is divided into three strips (the 12′ length) so I need to water each section. Would it be better to make one soaker hose that snakes back and forth across the bed, or three separate hoses, one for each section that can be turned on individually?
@Noelle, Your best option is one soaker hose. Setting up three has a great chance of not having enough water pressure.
Is a clear car wash soap container (30 gallon) safe to use as a rain barrel to water my vegetable plants? If not, are there any other low cost alternatives?
@Anthony, Clean the container with a mild solution of water and vinegar. Make sure to thoroughly wash out the vinegar. Also, if it’s an open container be sure to secure a top so small animals and children cannot fall in and drown.
Vinegar is enough to neutralize the chemical? I’m seeing things like Glycol Ether, monobutyl , Quaternary Surfactant &Hydrotreated Middle Distillate on the label…
@Doug, I doubt very highly that vinegar will neutralize those chemical and honestly it’s not worth the chance it someone says it will. Take the barrel to a recycling center and find a food grade barrel.
I am buying 2 or 3 rainbarrels, and wanted to know how best to place them: one at each downspout; or stacked next to each other, one downspout diverted into one barrel, then when that one gets full, feeds into the next barrel, into the next barrel, etc.
@Denise
It’s mostly personal preference. It depends on if you want the water closer to where you’re going to use it, or if it looks better in a hidden away spot, or if you mind or don’t mind getting the water from multiple places.
If there’s a barrel attached separately to each downspout, they’ll probably fill up the fastest with the least amount of rain.
I just got my first rain barrel, it came from a water treament plant. I read on DIY that rain barrels should be food safe, how do I know that my new barrel is food safe?
@Lezlie
Food grade usually means that it was actually used to store food or food ingredients. I think you would be better off asking the people at the water treatment plant if it’s safe, because they will be knowledgeable about what is or isn’t safe with water issues. If they gave them out to be used as rain barrels, then I would imagine that they knew of all the issues about that. But better to make a quick phone call and find out for sure than risk it!
Can you advise me on using a 55 gallon barrel that had contained detergent (sodium hydroxide & sodium hypochlorite) for use on a dairy farm as a rain barrel?
Thank you
@kathy
My own rule is that if I don’t understand what was in the barrel, then I won’t use it. I’m unfortunately not familiar with that, so I wouldn’t use it for myself. Sure, it could be just basic detergent and no big deal. But then again, it might not be. I don’t know enough to say.
The prices of rain barrels such as those found at Home Depot are quite high considering the material is just recycled plastic and comes with a plastic spigot. Is it feasible to purchase a large trash can and install a copper spigot? If so, what would be the best way to keep the spigot sealed? I will be using for my vegetable garden mostly. I suppose it would be best to screen the top and purchase a diverter kit or could I improvise?
@Joyce
You absolutely need to make sure that the top of the barrel is covered adequately if you are going to make your own rain barrel. An animal or even a person can easily drown in an open barrel. Your center of gravity makes it almost impossible to get back out of the barrel if you lean over and fall in. It sounds ridiculous, but I read about a woman who died trying to rescue her cat.
Here is a good post that links to several high quality sites with instructions on building your own barrel, which should answer your other questions.
http://www.rainbarreltips.com/make-your-own-rain-barrel-ultimate-guide/
The downspouts of my gutters currently connect to a drainage system that carries the water away from my house. I’d like to capture some of that water with a rain barrel. Is there a way I can collect some of the water in the barrel and divert the rest (overflow from the barrel) into the already existing drainage pipes? The pipes run underground to disperse the water far away from my foundation.
@Christine
A product like this might work for you.
http://www.cleanairgardening.com/gawadoat.html
I have three rain barrels 3/4 full in service for the past three months. The barrels are white and in the sun light 1/2 of the day. Now the water is turning green. What should i do add bleach? or something else?
Thanks
Tom
@Tom
Bleach will help with this problem.
I recommend just a few tablespoons full of bleach at a time. This link should help!
http://www.epa.gov/ogwdw/faq/emerg.html
hi I was wondering if it is possible to have a stand alone rain barrel?my garden is far from my house and i would like to collect the water near the garden. can i just collect rain water from the sky? or does it have to be connected to a down spout off the house?
@Rasa, Yes, you can however it will take much longer to collect any significant amount of water unless you have a huge downpour, and even then it will be much less than when collecting it from a roof top.
Hi!,
The water in my rain barrel stinks like sulpher, and I have read that this is a result of the breakdown of organics….I am not worried that it is unhealthy, but would like to stop the stink (without chemicals).
Someone mentioned putting goldfish and plants in it to keep the mosquito larvae in check and oxygenate the water. Do you have any experience with this? -Thanks!
@Dan, Those suggestions mentioned may work, you may also want to treat it with a very small amount of bleach. The EPA has done some research on the subject. Just a few tablespoons full of bleach at a time may do the trick.
http://www.epa.gov/ogwdw/faq/emerg.html
I have access to a number of barrels that actually used to contain Sodium Hypochlorite (bleach). I understand that typically barrels that once contained chemicals should not be used for rain collection, but given that bleach often seems to be the recommended treatment for potable water, stagnant water, etc., do you think these could be suitable for use as rain barrels if they have been completely emptied of the Sodium Hypochlorite and rinsed a few times?
I also have access to barrels that contained a soap used in a food production factory to wipe down the assembly lines and countertops. Would this be a better/worse type of barrel to use?
-Thanks!
@Ryan, You may want to consider cleaning both barrel types out thoroughly, add some rain water, then have that water tested. Typically you would not want to use either type of barrel however if you clean them and have the rain water tested you may be ok.
How much area can a 55 gallon rain barrel serve/water? I am looking for some calculation for area coverage and cannot find any. I have three downspouts in an area that covers just under 500 sf of garden space. Your previous comments have been very helpful. Thanks for your help.
@Andy, There are a number of variables which make calculating this difficult, such as the type of plants, the time of year, the average temperature, if you mulch around the plants, etc. I use rain water for my garden and simply subsidize water from my hose spigot when it runs out.
Steve, thanks for the response…on that side of the house I have three downspouts. I am figuring that I will start with one and add another as needed.
I have “stinky” water in my rain barrel. It seems adding a few tablespoons of bleach will help, but it won’t harm my plants will it? I only use the water for my flowers.
@PPautz, You are correct it will not harm your plants, as a matter of fact, bleech is used to purify drinking water. http://safewater.supportportal.com/ics/support/default.asp?deptID=23015
As a filter / screen, can I use cheesecloth?
Thanks for your help
@Mary, Yes, you can, however you will need to check it regularly so it does not get filled with debris and stop the flow of water. Also, you may want to put a plastic screen as a pre-screen to keep twigs and other sharp items from puncturing the cheesecloth.
I have a rain barrel and an extra barrel for storage. I want to link them up, but I’m not sure why all the barrels I see linked are linked up high on the barrels, shouldn’t they be linked low? If they are linked high than the extra barrel only gets water when the first is overflowing.
@David, The main rain barrel should be equal or higher than the extra barrel receiving the water, i.e. the storage barrel. I suggest making the storage barrel slightly lower.
how do I keep mosquitoes from laying eggs in my rain buckets/
@MaryAlbrecht, First you should have a screen over the open area, this will help keep mosquito’s out. You can buy the material at most hardware stores, it’s the same screen used on a screen door. Also, add a few Mosquito Control Dunks to your rain barrel, this is a non toxic way to kill the larva. http://www.cleanairgardening.com/mosquito1.html
Hi! Can you tell me what kind of paint to use to paint on the plastic rain barrel? Thanks!
@Mel, Your local hardware store will have paints that will adhere to plastic, likely something like Krylon® Fusion for Plastic. I think it comes in a can or spray bottle.
My rain barrel contains about 500 to 800 tadpoles. We keep a tight lid on the barrel, so how did they get in there? What can I do to keep them growing to adulthood?
Nancy O, Somehow a frog must have gotten in your rain barrel. Are you sure they are tadpoles? If they are extremely tiny they could be mosquito larva, but if they are tadpoles you may want to fish them out with a net and take them to a local lake or pond.
is there a rebate program for vernon b.c for the purchase of a rain barrel????
@Lynne, Not that we are aware of, however contact your local water department or city water agency and they can put you in contact with the proper department.
I am building a new home and want to collect rain water off my roof but do not want ugly barrels near my house. Are there any alternatives? I am also considering bearing abhuge collection barrel in back yard somewhere but need to know how to get the water out
@Mike l, There are several more attractive rain barrels, such as a wine or whiskey barrel that is used to collect rain water. There are also plastic barrels molded to look like large urns. http://www.cleanairgardening.com/agua-rain-barrel.html
As for getting your rain water out, if not gravity feed then you would need a pump. There are both battery, manual and even solar powered pumps: http://www.cleanairgardening.com/solar-powered-rain-barrel-pump.html
From what I’ve read, regardless of the material used in a plastic rain barrel, i.e. ‘food grade’, or the like; one still shouldn’t use the water for a vegetable garden if the source is from an asphalt shingled roof, or other type where contaminants from the source are as much of a concern as the plastic material in the rain barrel. Is that correct? Also, what type of plastic should one look for in an eco-friendly, UV protective, non-leaching barrel?
@Jan, Maybe you just spend $10,000 on bottled water for your plants. No, wait! Bottled water is dangerous too because the bottles are made of plastic! What kind of plastic? And oh no! Maybe you should tear out your lawn, because all of that dangerous shingle water is going into your yard right now! And don’t eat at restaurants anymore, because they might be using food from food grade barrels and you don’t know what type of plastic it is.
Dear Madam or Sir: I want to place my rain barrel at my garden site in the yard. I would like to elevate the barrel so the garden could be watered by gravity-feed. Since I barrel will not be underneath a downspout from the house, I would like to enhance the amount of surface area for collecting rainwater for the barrel. Any recommendations for some type of enlarged collar or other attachment for collecting more rainwater in the barrel? Thanks. Barry
@barry, The best funnel or collar you have is your house, so unless you live in an area that gets a regular and large amount of rain you will not get much water by just placing the barrel out in the open and without the use of the roof for your water source.
I would like to buy a rain chain and barrel, but I do not have a gutter system on my house. On the front of the house I have an area where when it rains it washes out my garden which I think would be the perfect spot for the rain chain and barrel to collect water for the garden. I would like an attractive rain barrel since it’s in the fron of the house and my house is mid-century modern style. Any help on where to find more modern looking collection systems that will work without the use of a gutter would be great. Thank you in advance.
@Kathryn, The modern part is the gutter without it you’re going to have a hard time catching the water. Start with some gutters – then do a search for rain barrels online and you will have plenty to choose from.
We are putting two rain barrels out and want to know what we should use to strap them down to keep them from blowing off when it is not raining and they are low on water. What do you recommend? We plan on painting them to match our house, and don’t want the straps (or whatever is recommended) to really stand out.
@Donna Wright, If your barrels are not sealed you could drop a few rocks or brick in the barrel to hold them down. As for a strap that is not easily seen, that’s a tough one not knowing which barrel you have. I suggest adding the rocks to the bottom, if it’s a sealed barrel just use a bunch of smaller rocks to give you the weight necessary to keep it from blowing away.
why aren’t the hose bibs lower on barrel
to use all of the water in barrel ?
@Dave, Some are placed lower towards the bottom while other place them 1/3 from the bottom. The ones place at 1/3 from the bottom allow a water can to be place under while the ones with hose bibs near or at the bottom require the barrel to be placed on a stand to allow the hose bib to be accessed. Not all are mid way as show at this link: http://www.cleanairgardening.com/33galrainbar.html
hi there, i am just curious about who started & runs this site, as during my browsing for good rain barrel information, i’ve found that i really love this site. it has a nice layout, the information is delivered in a fashion that is clear for a novice like myself with interest, and the answers & information given on the message boards are helpful. good job!
@julia, Thanks for your comments, it was started by a guy who wants to help individuals learn more about rain barrels. Glad you found the information useful.
We have a spot in the front of our old queen anne victorian home (120 yrs old) where the water pours down from the gable over the front porch. Is there a rain barrel I can get that looks nice and could catch water pouring from 12 feet up down to the ground? Or could we use something attractive like a rain chain to focus the water down into the barrel?
@Patricia Kimble, Yes there are more attractive looking rain barrels and yes, you can use a rain chain, but keep in mind even with a rain chain and barrel, without the use of a downspout the water is still going to splash a lot when it hits the ground or top of the barrel. FYI, do not use a open barrel, you risk a small child or animal drowning if they fall inside.
what do u add to rain water to kill the mosquitos
@jerry sobona, Add these mosquito dunks to your rain barrel water, http://www.cleanairgardening.com/mosquito1.html
They are non toxic and will kill the larva therefore your mosquito problem will go away.
Can I cover my clear 350 gallon rain barrel with shade cloth or some other dark cloth to prevent algae? It would be difficult to move it to be able to paint it a dark color.
Wonderful site -so helpful. Thanks.
Sidney
Sidney, Stopping the algae is going to be tough, the shade cloth will help, you may also consider addind something like this: http://www.cleanairgardening.com/pond-conditioner.html It will not harm the water.
Just had a new roof put on my house. Could the water collected off the new roof be harmful to the fish in my watergarden if I used it to top it off? Sometimes after a lot of rain I don’t need it for the plants but could still fill the pond a little… Thanks!
@Nanci, Wait a few months then once the roof has had a chance to wash off a few times you should be fine to let it drain into your pond.
Hi,, I have a couple of problems with one of my barrels. First I can’t seem to put a spout on, as in I have drilled a 1″ hole but for the life of me cannot get the spout (metal or plastic screwed into the barrel-any suggestions? Barrel is full up-to the hole. Secondly same barrel and although I had a covered it with a larger mesh basket somehow a squirrel found it’s way in and the poor thing drown. Without knowing this sad fact it rotted and decomposed within the barrel so, my question is what do I do with the contaminated water? I have already removed the remains, but do I just add bleach? or where do I pour the black/green sludge? Thanks in advance for ANY help you can give me,
Kelly
@Kelly, You need a threaded spigot with a nut to hold it on. Put the spigot threaded part though the hole and reach in from the inside and attach the nut. As for the contaminated water, yes a little bleach should do the trick but honestly since you’re not drinking it, the water will not hurt your plants. If your rain barrel is full of sludge, you should empty, clean it and set it back up. Add a small amount of bleach every once in a while to help slow down the growth.
I have a rain barrel out back and sometimes overnight it is empty, like a horse got in our fenced in, urban backyard and drank it all.
What could be drinking all the water?
Angela, Zombies are most thirsty at night so that would be my best guess! Or it could have a hole/crack in the bottom.
Hahahaha! We were discussing this at my job and our best conclusion was winged unicorns. Zombies is much better provided they don’t leave foot prints, as the “culprit” leaves no trace… no prints, no feathers, no fur, no dirt. The hole/crack idea was brought up too, however most of the time the barrel holds water fine and the level does not change from day to day. The following conclusion was thus formed, that at a certain level the crack has too much pressure and opens to let water out. Testing this theory currently because I cannot find any cracks.
Thanks for feedback Steve!
live in maryland, lots of cold and freezing weather , what should i do to protect { winterize } my rain barrel during winter ?
]
@Karl, To winterize your barrel simply make it so no water is in the rain barrel. You can open the spigot, or divert the downspout so it is not filling the barrel. Or you can flip your rain barrel over so no water can get in it.
We just purchased a rain barrel and it worked perfectly the first time through (attached a garden hose to the provided hose and drained it into the yard). We closed it and came back later, redirecting the hose to another place in the yard and no water came out (yes – we did open the valve back up). I unattached the garden hose to see if any water would come out and no water came out. What could have happened in between the two times to cause it to stop working? This is our first time using it – doesn’t seem like there’s been time for any debris to build up, etc. Please advise.
@Jon, Sounds like the hose is clogged, blow it out and see what happens.
I have been using a rainbarrel for months now with no problems. Yesterday, a filter was added and now the pump comes on every two minutes. Any ideas why this is happening?
@Leslie,
Nope, but try taking off the filter and see if it still comes on every two minutes to see if its related. Maybe when installing the filter you did something to the pump.
My husband installed a rain barrel and the first time it rained, it filled up and then went down the downspout like it was suppose to, since then, it fills up and then runs over, not going down the downspout, we installed the diverter kit that came with it, and husband lost directions since then, why is it overflowing???
@bonnie, There is a change the back flow tube is clogged, however no knowing which diverter you have its hard to speculate. Try cleaning it out and checking the connections.
I have a hose on a reel and I connected that to the rain barrel spigot. I can’t seem to get the water to come out, go through the hose wound around the reel, and out the hose nozzel so I can water plants. Any suggestions?
@Jane, Yea, get rid of the hose reel.
What is the advantage of the black coat of paint inside a rain barrel?
@Enis, Toxins, that’s the biggest one I can think of!
Oh, and I guess it might block the light to slow the growth of algae, but painting the outside of the barrel would do the same thing.
hi i have just brought a barrel that as had sodium hydroxide solution in it how do i clean it out to make it safe for water to run in a koi pound
@alan wilson, Sorry but I cannot recommend using this container or how it should be cleaned. I suggest it be properly recycled and a barrel that was used in the food industry found or purchased. This way you can be sure there were no toxic chemical used in it.
I’m wondering if it’s possible to connect my rain barrel to a downstairs toilet, so when my power goes out and my well pump doesn’t operate, I could still have water to flush the toilet. There’s an elevation difference of about 6 feet from the bottom of the barrel to the top of the toilet tank. Any ideas?
@David, Yes, that’s possible, just a matter of running the supply line from the rain barrel to the toilet tank and making an adapter to get the water into the tank.
I know the algae in my rain barrel water is okay for watering my flower garden, but can I use it for water in my birdbaths? Also is there anything I can add to the barrel to keep the algae from forming? And lastly do I have to store my rain barrels inside for the winter? I know I have to drain them but can I store them outside in an unheated shed. I live in New York and the winters here can be harsh.
@Patricia Alber, Yes, you can use the water from your rain barrel to supply water to your birdbath, and no it will not harm the birds. To help with the algae in the rain barrels you can add a few spoon full of bleach, this is approved by the FDA and will not harm the water. If you live in a cold area with snow or freezing weather you should flip the rain barrel over, open the spigot, or take the barrels indoors. If a rain barrel has water in it when a hard freeze comes it will damage the rain barrel.
I have a rural home with its own well. The water is great, and according to folks who have lived in this area for 50 years or more, the supply is constant. Everything that comes from my downspouts soaks into the ground. There is no pavement anywhere near the downspouts. I question whether or not rain barrels in my case would actually make any contribution to the environment.
@Bob, Sounds like the ideal situation. If you were to harvest the rain water you would likely just be putting it back out in a more concentrated area like a garden. So it would not hurt, just allow you to concentrate the water to a specific area and cut down on the use of the well pump because you are using the rain barrel water.
I was thinking of installing an underground tank to collect rain water. However the price is rather high. Are there other benefits that an underground tank would provide that a rain barrel wouldn’t, other than the amount of rain collected? Four rain barrels could collect about the fifth of the tank the landscape architect was recommending. But price would be substantially lower. I would love a compare contrast between the two.
@Sue, The biggest benefit would be the unit being out of site, the biggest negative other than the cost is approval (permits) and safety, seeing that you are digging a huge hole near your house. You have the most flexibility with individual above ground rain barrels.
I have been a rain barrel user for years. We leave the valve on our Rain barrel open about 1/4 of the way all the time with a soaker hose attached to disperse the water into our garden as well as minimize barrel overflow.
I was wondering if you had any statistics on Rain Barrel usage in the United States or growth of the industry? My wife and I have noticed rain barrels popping up in all sorts of places we’d never seen them before.
Love the site!
joe
@Joe S, Yes, we keep those statistics however that is top secret information and you do not appear to have the clearance.
Really? Top Secret? That’s unfortunate. I would expect that type of information people would be excited to share. How does one get clearance? I’m working on a project about water usage and was trying to quantify the industry growth but I am unable to find any statistics thus far.
Thanks anyway.
@Joe S, Yes, Top Secret! We do not joke about water conservation around here. As for getting clearance you would have to talk to the commander and chief, or pay $300.00. We take all major credit cards.
OK I have 55-gllon drums that use to have detergent and bleach in them. They have been washed out with dawn and then soaked with baking soda and rinsed inside and out many many time. I have put a pitcher pump to deliver the water. Question, can this water now be used to drink? also what is the length of time that water will stay fresh before you need to boil it to make it safe to drink. Thanks for your help
@southern patriot, Not knowing what the source of the water is, I would have to assume its from your roof. If this is the case then I would have to say no. Birds crap on the roof, not to mention the content of the roofing material, its fairly toxic.
If I wanted to continue using the rain barrel system that I created over the winter, how could I best keep the pipes between the barrels from freezing? Is there any way to keep the water moving, without electricity, that would keep the water from freezing and the pipes from breaking?
@Amanda, No!
I have a a penthouse condo with a lovely 400 sq ft deck but no down spouts! Are there any rain barrel options for this type of scenario?
Thanks,
S
@Susan G, You could line up 10 to 20 rain barrels under the roof line and catch the run off or install a gutter system and downspouts.
I’ve been told I need to have a pump in the rain barrel to really water the yard using a hose from the barrel–that gravity won’t be enough. Yet I can’t seem to see pumps offered on rain barrel sites. Any advice?
@Laura, There are a number of pumps out there, this one uses solar power, I think the same site offers battery power ones too- http://www.cleanairgardening.com/solar-powered-rain-barrel-pump.html
I will be using rain water as my primary water source accept for drinking.Not sure if drums or a single large yet.
Do you recommend a pump and tank bladder system for continuous water pressure? Where can I purchase one?
Thanks,
Everett
@Everett, I would try a tank, it will last longer than a bladder and yes a pump will give you the pressure needed. Here is a solar powered pump – http://www.cleanairgardening.com/solar-powered-rain-barrel-pump.html
I have 2 soap barrels from the care wash – what is the best way to clean the soap out of the – is there anything like bleach or vinegar to cut the soap?
@Laureen, Start with water and if that fails try a little more!
Excellent website. Simple, straight-forward, and accurate answers.
Will put this one at the top of my favorites.
Thanks
Steve
Can I leave my plastic rain barrel out in the winter full of water ? Will it crack?
@Gloria Sebion@ If you live in southern California or any other location where it’s unlikely it will get below freezing then yes, you can leave it full during the winter. If you live in an area where it freezes then you should drain it and disconnect from the rain barrel from its water source.
Where can I find a simple kit to adapt my wooden rain barrell to a soaker hose.
Thanks!
@Linda, I doubt a kit exists however a hardware store should have the parts you need, in the plumbing section.
Anyone ever reuse barrels originally containing water-based glue?
Hi there:
Great site: lots of good answers. But not the one I’m looking for. I have a chance to buy barrels to use as rain barrels that originally held 97 % water, 2 % alcohol, 1 % formalin. The seller says “A warm water rinse and they are good to go!”. Can you tell me if this is advisable?
Thanks.
@Jim Baxter, If those percentages of what was actually in the barrel are correct then yes, it should be safe to use as a rain barrel once it is washed. Formalin is used to clean fish tanks, it kills the bacteria, and since yours has such a low percentage you will be fine. But as always we do not recommend using water collected from your roof as drinking water.
I have a 8 rain barrel system connected with PVC pipes that drains from our roof. I am trying to figure out the best system to winterize our rain barrels, while continuing to use them, in the winter. Because we plan on using them, emptying them for the winter doesn’t work. Our rain barrel won’t crack, but our PVC pipes do. I was thinking of painting them black for the day-hours, and overnight simply removing the pipes and closing the barrels up. Or possibly building a shed around the barrels. Any ideas? Thanks
@Sheridan, The only other idea to help keep your rain barrel pipes from freezing is to possibly insulate them.
Here’s a few tips from a painting contractor w/40 years experience:
To prevent algae in barrels & containers place copper inside the containers. You can use pennies or old wiring or plumbing pipe. These can be merely tossed in or epoxied to PVC pipe for easier removal. Ancient mariners used copper vessels to hold drinking water for voyages to keep microbial growths from developing. Roman legionaire placed copper coins in their canteens/gourds to treat water they got from wells, rivers, lakes and ponds.
Barrels that held cleaners and soaps are safe to use without cleaning. Any residue inside will get dissolved by the rain water and aid the water’s penetration into soils, especially clays. Most of the products made to treat lawns and gardens contain surfactants (detergents) for this purpose. All soaps and detergents are biodegradeable, too.
Sometimes you can find companies that sell used 250 gal plastic tanks that once held chemical cleaning compounds. Most have a metal frame and base so they can be moved with a forkllift when full. They usually sell for $25-35 and will fit inside a pick-up bed for hauling. These have an 8″ screw cap on top and a 3″ bottom drain.
Another option is Army surplus fuel bladders. They fold up small and when full resemble giant waterbed mattresses. I’ve seen folks place these beneath raised decks to hold rainwater and used PVC pipe to direct the downspout water into those.
There’s a wide range of electric pumps available. You can get an “on demand” 110 volt pump and fasten it to a cheap dolly that also has a holder for a grounded extension cord. Wheel it out to the tank, hook up the juice and garden hose and go water. The pump only runs when there’s open flow and stops when pressure builds up.
You can drink the water after filtering then boiling it for 10 minutes or more. Then place the water in a jug and agitate for awhile to get oxygen back into it for taste. I did that numerous times when in Boy Scouts on primitive camp-outs where we had to live off the land. (one ordeal like that will cure the pickiest eater fer sure!) You can do that then save the water for later in jugs after adding a small amount of bleach. I have about 100 gallons of tap water saved that for emergencies since our rural water supplier often goes off-line during severe weather that cuts off electricity for their pumps.
The Texas drought wiped out my lawn so am considering turning the backyard into a big truck garden. I’m considering using the 250 gal tanks for roof run-off in conjuction with the treated water from my aerobic spetic system. The speptic water is safe to use on vegetables that grow above the ground (ie; corn, beans, squash). I’ll use the rain water on the tubers.
I saw a website showing how Israel’s farmers grow veggies in containers using large upright PVC pipe with holes in the side that hold the plants. Inside the pipe is a wicking fabric that brings up moisture &nutrients to the plant roots. The plants grow like crazy and they use tall stakes around the base to tie off the vines. These produce an incredible amount in a very small area plus makes harvesting much easier. This method would be ideal for those with limited space or lousy soils.
Hope this info helps!
I set up a rain barrel for the first time this summer. I love the idea of it. However, we have had so much rain during the last few months that it is full. Here in NJ, I will have to put the barrel away for the winter. What should I do with a barrel full of water? It kind of defeats the purpose of having it to let the water just go down the drain. But the ground is saturated and I don’t need to water anything…. Any suggestions? Thanks.
We would like to use a rain barrel to collect the water coming from our basement sumpump. It exits via PVC pipe connected to downspout. System will need to have a valve to prevent water from going back flowing into basement collection well. Anyone seen such a thing? Ideas?
I have an old oak barrell that was used for whisky. It still has a pretty strong booze smell from the whisky. What can I use to wash it on the inside that will remove the smell? I plan to make it into a bar table for my home bar, so want it to be odorless.
@Rick, Try washing the whisky barrel with a mixture of water and vinegar, 5 parts water to one part vinegar. Also, you can try making a mixture of baking soda and water, consisteny of paste and scrube it out with a brush.
Hi Steve,
I’m considering purchasing a 330g IBC tote as a rain barrel that previously contained caustic Lye (NaOH). At best, I know I can avoid making salt water by checking the water ph regularly. Can you offer any other suggestions to watch out for.
@Patty, It looks like you should be fine, just keep an eye on any plants that will be watered with the rain water being collected, just to be on the safe side. Also, keep in mind, not knowing the source of the tote, be sure you have a reliable source that what they say the tote was used for is accurate.
Can I make a non food safe 55 gallon Plastic barrel safe by using
Krylon fusion spray paint . They advertize it as being food safe and
its purpose is to be a barrior.
@Larry Cunningham, No, I personally would not risk it, eventually that Krylon paint will wear off and leave the original plastic barrel exposed.
Thanks Should have thought of long term use.
Larry
Hi there! So I have a qustion, I have closed top barrels about 20 of them I have converted into rain barrels. (The blue plastic barrels) and I also have a underground cictern. My qustion is how do I harvest water with out the gutters, since all the rain from my gutters are being used to fill my home water suppy? I run a small farm and want to use it for irragation. I found a plastic funnal on line but it was 65 bucks! DO the math that 1300 bucks for all 20 barrels! I can’t do that. Any other solutions? I have the capablity of harvesting 1600 gallons an want to do it as effecent as I can.
@Michael Karnuth, Sorry but I’m not following your question, first you say “how do I harvest water with out the gutters…” and then you say “the rain from my gutters are being used to fill my home water suppy…”. So you do or do not have gutters?
So I’m a serious newbie to collecting and storing rainwater…and before I go all out and buy rain barrels I really just have some basic questions, and you will probably laugh at how stupid they are but here goes! If I put a pot (that I use to cook) on my back porch the next time it rains…is that water safe to drink or do I need to boil it first before drinking? Second, after I have collected, and if need be treated the water, can I just store the water in plastic milk jugs or is that not safe because the jug starts to degrade after a while? What should I use to safely store the water that I have collected to use for drinking and cooking? Thanks and like I said “total newbie” here so be kind!
@Stephanie, The water you are attempting to collect, is it coming from your roof or direct from the sky? If from the roof, no, I would not drink it, the shingles are slightly toxic. If collecting the rain water directly falling from the sky, there should not be a problem. Yes, boiling is a good idea incase a bird craps in it, or some other foreign object falls into the water. As for storing water, do NOT use a plastic milk jug, you cannot adequately clean it. Use a plastic 2 liter soda bottle or plastic juice bottle. Thoroughly clean them with hot water and soap, and disinfect them with a mild solution of 1 teaspoon of household chlorine bleach to a qt. of water. Once rinsed with the water and bleach, rinse again with water then add your storage water and seal. Oh, and don’t forget to clean the caps the same way.