Downspout Rainwater

**Durgan** · 04-08-2009, 05:45 PM

Downspout Rainwater
http://www.durgan.org/URL/?Rainwater 8 April 2009 Downspout Rainwater

Pictures indicating a simple, practical method of utilizing downspout rainwater. Barrels cost 15 dollars and all parts and tools are readily available. Any urban downspout system must address the overflow problem during rainfall. The large bung hole is a reasonable compromise for overflow. The height is such that a hose may be utilized for watering plants. The system is readily expandable. I have four barrels, two on each side of the house.

**Grainlady** · 04-09-2009, 10:54 AM

Thanks for posting the link. That's one set-up I hadn't seen before and I'll add it to my file.

I spent a lot of time studying rain barrel systems before we did ours two years ago (this is our 3rd season for using them). We have a 1,000-gallon capacity and will continue to add to it. It's enough for the garden and landscape, but not quite enough for our "postage-stamp" size yard.

We have two containers linked together at 4 downspouts. They are linked with a hose that fits into each barrel through a rubber gromet. Some of them have the hose placed low, and both barrels fill at the same time, and others are placed high and the first barrel is filled first, then the next barrel. It depends on the size/location/use of the barrels.

The longest run of gutter has two 165-gallon containers at one end and two 50-gallon barrels at the other end. We have one container we painted to look like a giant ladybug and it contains 210-gallons. We got our containers from a farm supply store.

It takes as little as 1/4-inch of rain to fill a 50-gallon barrel.

Here's an example of linking barrels together.... http://www.emmitsburg.net/gardens/ar...ter_barrel.htm

We use downspout diverters so when the containers are full, the rain will continue down the downspout.

http://www.gardeners.com/Downspout-D...efault,cp.html

**Durgan** · 04-13-2009, 08:56 PM

Originally Posted by Grainlady

Thanks for posting the link. That's one set-up I hadn't seen before and I'll add it to my file.

I spent a lot of time studying rain barrel systems before we did ours two years ago (this is our 3rd season for using them). We have a 1,000-gallon capacity and will continue to add to it. It's enough for the garden and landscape, but not quite enough for our "postage-stamp" size yard.

We have two containers linked together at 4 downspouts. They are linked with a hose that fits into each barrel through a rubber gromet. Some of them have the hose placed low, and both barrels fill at the same time, and others are placed high and the first barrel is filled first, then the next barrel. It depends on the size/location/use of the barrels.

The longest run of gutter has two 165-gallon containers at one end and two 50-gallon barrels at the other end. We have one container we painted to look like a giant ladybug and it contains 210-gallons. We got our containers from a farm supply store.

It takes as little as 1/4-inch of rain to fill a 50-gallon barrel.

Here's an example of linking barrels together.... http://www.emmitsburg.net/gardens/ar...ter_barrel.htm

We use downspout diverters so when the containers are full, the rain will continue down the downspout.

http://www.gardeners.com/Downspout-D...efault,cp.html

The system you present is far to complicated. It will work but is too much misery. Using the system I described the whole is basically sealed and very simple to implement.

**ml2620** · 04-14-2009, 08:26 AM

What do you use your water for? We would like to have something to water our vegetable and herb gardens with, but my understaning is that with our asphalt roof, we cannot use that water for edible plants.

We could use it for the lawn or washing our cars - but honestly, we never water the garden and very rarely wash the cars.

**Grainlady** · 04-14-2009, 09:40 AM

Originally Posted by Durgan

The system you present is far to complicated. It will work but is too much misery. Using the system I described the whole is basically sealed and very simple to implement.

It's not complicated at all, but may seem so because you haven't done it and only read my description. It's also a system that is easy to reverse in the late fall so we don't get any ice blocking the gutters and downspouts in the winter. There are many methods when you thoroughly research it. You have to find one that works for your needs, and our needs and conditions are probably completely different from yours. It's not a one-size-fits-all.

We decided to use that style of water diverter because we can get extremely heavy rains in the spring and need a system that will quickly move water down the downspout and away from our home when the containers are full, rather than through the overflow connected to the barrels. The downspouts were already there, so no sense not using them... We also needed closed containers because of our extremely hot weather in the summer. You will find you lose a lot of your water to evaporation when you have an open barrel method. A closed container will also keep mosquitoes out... Conservation of the water in the containers is important when we are in a drought around here and city water use is restricted.

We need the large containers to provide enough water for using for watering the grass, but so far only have enough capacity for the 10-foot of grass we have to maintain in the back yard because of underground utilities. NO grass in the rest of the back yard and the side yards - we used xeriscaping and zerogardening to eliminate as much watering as possible.

We use a soaker hose attached to the large containers for watering grass. The higher off the ground you place your containers, the more pressure you will have for watering (gravity feed). Otherwise, you may need to use a pump to transfer water from the barrel if you use a hose. You want your containers to be at least one coarse of concrete blocks off the ground for gravity feed.

I have two solar powered pumps I use to feed water to the drip irrigation in the landscape (drought tolerant native plants) and our small vegetable/herb garden. We also do hand-watering using watering cans.

**Durgan** · 04-16-2009, 11:57 AM

Changing from Winter to Summer mode.
http://www.durgan.org/URL/?Downspout 16 April 2009 Downspout Water Connection
The downspout water system was switched over to Summer mode by connecting the downspout to the storage barrels.

**NewLeaf** · 04-16-2009, 03:19 PM

I think both of those ideas are great. It really depends on how much space you have available. I would be happy w/either one because right now all we do is catch rainwater from our down spout in an old wash tub.....

**Durgan** · 04-16-2009, 06:41 PM

Originally Posted by NewLeaf

I think both of those ideas are great. It really depends on how much space you have available. I would be happy w/either one because right now all we do is catch rainwater from our down spout in an old wash tub.....

Three garbage cans under the downspout was my first effort. Misery!

**savvy_sniper** · 04-19-2009, 09:05 AM

Durgan!

Bless your little pea picking heart! I did a search here for rain barrels here on FV and found your thread. I have been wondering where I could get plastic drums (for free) to use/make rain barrels. Mentioned it in passing to my neighbor across the street yesterday and he said he could get me as many plastic drums as I needed!

So I will be showing hubby you plan and we will get busy soon! Boy I wish I had them yesterday when we had 6+ inches of rain in a couple of hours!

I want the rain barrels for TWO reasons.

1. Water the yard and plants when needed.

2. Be able to run a hose from the barrel to the front yard when the barrels overflow to keep some of the water out of the backyard.

This will be the cheapest and easiest way to do that. Our backyard does not drain. One third of the roof in the back has NO gutter, one third has a gutter that drains to a metal patio cover with ONE down spout to handle all the water that comes off of two thirds of the roof!

I know we need to put up a gutter on the third of the roof that doesn't have one. BUT being able to store/divert two thirds of the water will help immensely.

Mary

**launilb** · 04-19-2009, 11:04 AM

We used to have a similar set up. We used a plastic barrel & my DH made the stand out of 2x4's. Unfortunately, my garden and flower beds quickly outgrew it's capacity! We now have a dairy tank that holds about 275 gallons. We screen the water so that none of the larger pieces of dirt or any critters clog up the outlet & valve. DH bought a portable pump and we use it to add pressure needed so that we don't have to try and elevate the tank. For most things we gravity feed for watering but, for washing the motorcycles and camper, we use the pump for added pressure. I'll take some pics the next time we set up the pump and will post here. We are also looking at adding another to the other end of the house as well! Just don't like watching all of that water being wasted.

**launilb** · 04-19-2009, 11:08 AM

savvy_sniper if you have any dairy farms or dairy processing plants, they frequently get the blue plastic barrels. A lot of them discard them or give them away free. Just make sure you rinse them thoroughly and disinfect completely!!! Check what has been stored in it before you add any chemicals just to make sure there isn't any potential reactions. Our first one came from the Kraft plant here in Northern NY. My Father In Law knew someone who worked there so he got us one for free. The big one we have now cost $75 but has been well worth it. The hard part was getting the 4" outlet down to garden hose size. It took some plumbing ingenuity!

**savvy_sniper** · 04-21-2009, 03:59 PM

I just walked outside and guess what I found under my carport? TWO plastic drums. My neighbor was true to his word!

NOW to get all the other parts and accessories we need and get busy. Sure do wish it had been set up this past Saturday when we had 7+ inches of rain in less than 2 hours!

**Durgan** · 04-21-2009, 05:19 PM

Originally Posted by savvy_sniper

I just walked outside and guess what I found under my carport? TWO plastic drums. My neighbor was true to his word!

NOW to get all the other parts and accessories we need and get busy. Sure do wish it had been set up this past Saturday when we had 7+ inches of rain in less than 2 hours!

It rained yesterday and now I have 5 barrels full of garden water. I will put another two barrels on one side to increase the capacity. This will give me a total of 315 Imperial gallons. It is amazing how quickly this amount can be used. I now have 225 imperial gallons.

Plastic drums if I remember correctly don't have two holes, so it will take some ingenuity to set them up. That is why I chose the metal drums.

**launilb** · 04-21-2009, 09:25 PM

With the plastic drums, my DH and I cut a square opening in the side of the barrel making sure that the opening for the spigot was at the bottom. We used fiberglass screen to form a net to catch any of the yucky stuff from the gutter. Because we laid it on it's side in the elevated rack, it worked out fantastic! We created a bypass out of excess downspout and actually was able to divert the water when the barrel was full.

**Durgan** · 04-22-2009, 06:58 AM

Originally Posted by launilb

With the plastic drums, my DH and I cut a square opening in the side of the barrel making sure that the opening for the spigot was at the bottom. We used fiberglass screen to form a net to catch any of the yucky stuff from the gutter. Because we laid it on it's side in the elevated rack, it worked out fantastic! We created a bypass out of excess downspout and actually was able to divert the water when the barrel was full.

Pictures? Gardening is about pictures in this day and age. Talk is designed to obscure and confuse.