Comments on: Got Rain Barrel Questions?

By: steve

steve — Wed, 01 Feb 2012 16:22:38 +0000

@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.

By: Stephanie

Stephanie — Tue, 31 Jan 2012 17:41:46 +0000

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!

By: Heather

Heather — Fri, 27 Jan 2012 22:33:26 +0000

@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!

By: Larry Cunningham

Larry Cunningham — Sun, 22 Jan 2012 11:19:56 +0000

Thanks Should have thought of long term use.
Larry

By: steve

steve — Fri, 20 Jan 2012 16:18:13 +0000

@Larry Cunningham, No, I personally would not risk it, eventually that Krylon paint will wear off and leave the original plastic barrel exposed.

By: steve

steve — Fri, 20 Jan 2012 16:14:56 +0000

@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?

By: Michael Karnuth

Michael Karnuth — Thu, 19 Jan 2012 02:52:38 +0000

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.

By: Larry Cunningham

Larry Cunningham — Tue, 17 Jan 2012 12:32:44 +0000

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.

By: steve

steve — Mon, 09 Jan 2012 18:58:12 +0000

@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.

By: Patty

Patty — Sun, 08 Jan 2012 19:16:12 +0000

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.