Water barrels?

**GratefulGreens** · 07-13-2010, 07:10 AM

Anyone here every made their own water barrel? I'm trying to think of somewhere that we could get just a regular barrel for cheap (reuse one). I'm sure my DH could figure it out pretty easy as far as the construction of it (he's pretty handy). Just curious if anyone had some ideas...

**Russ** · 07-13-2010, 09:52 AM

There are quite a few plans out.

Rain Barrel Project

How to Construct a Rain Barrel

**mndtrp** · 07-13-2010, 09:14 PM

It's illegal to have these in some states. If you are concerned about the rain police knocking on your door, you might want to double check that before installing one.

**ravenmaniac** · 07-13-2010, 09:59 PM

Wow, I did not know they were illegal in some states. Thank you mndtrp, I'll be sure to check our laws before I make mine. I was going to make them this fall and set them up next spring.

**Russ** · 07-14-2010, 08:27 AM

Seriously, illegal?
I have to look that up.

on edit..
Yup! Illegal in Colorado.

**ravenmaniac** · 07-14-2010, 09:27 AM

Wow, illegal in Colorado. Who knew? Thanks for looking that up. Guess I can make mine since I live in Maryland.

I looked at my sister's rain barrels, and they look like rubbermaid totes with a piece of screen in the top. My sis paid $99.00 for each of hers. My husband and I can duplicate them. When we do it I'll post pics.

**GratefulGreens** · 07-14-2010, 04:48 PM

Originally Posted by mndtrp

It's illegal to have these in some states. If you are concerned about the rain police knocking on your door, you might want to double check that before installing one.

Wow! Really? Do you know why?

**GratefulGreens** · 07-14-2010, 04:50 PM

Originally Posted by ravenmaniac

Wow, illegal in Colorado. Who knew? Thanks for looking that up. Guess I can make mine since I live in Maryland.

I looked at my sister's rain barrels, and they look like rubbermaid totes with a piece of screen in the top. My sis paid $99.00 for each of hers. My husband and I can duplicate them. When we do it I'll post pics.

This is what we're thinking we're going to have to do. My husband is quite handy so I'm 100% he could make one

**mndtrp** · 07-14-2010, 10:28 PM

Originally Posted by GratefulGreens

Wow! Really? Do you know why?

Ancient water rights.

People downstream from Colorado technically own the water that falls from the sky and enters the rivers. While the water that lands on my property will never make it to these rivers, and the amount I would divert is incredibly minimal, the law remains. I imagine if you give homeowners the rights to divert water from rivers, large landowners could start doing the same, and then downstream communities wouldn't have anything.

At one point, I thought there was going to be a law change that allowed for residential, small container barrels. I don't know what the outcome was.

**Grayce** · 07-20-2010, 10:35 PM

We made our own rain barrel. A soft drink manufacturer near us sells plastic barrels for $20. We bought the tap part from the hardware store. Everything cost about $30.

**nadine64** · 07-21-2010, 03:31 AM

Originally Posted by mndtrp

It's illegal to have these in some states. If you are concerned about the rain police knocking on your door, you might want to double check that before installing one.

That is so hard to believe! You would think that every state would encourage this. Wow. Thanks for the heads-up!