My sustainable homestead is in constant development. The new addition to this ever-growing project is rain barrels. They provide water for my chickens, irrigate my gardens, and keep my compost pile moist.My local municipality joined forces with my state college to offer classes and incentives for residents to increase their conservation efforts. You can also check with your local government to find out if they offer something similar. The program allowed me to purchase a 55 gallon rain barrel for $37. It was such a great deal that I decided to buy three barrels. I was assured that the barrels would be safe for food, so there were no toxic residues. My barrel was used to store juice and it was designed to withstand the pressure and weight 55 gallons of liquid. This is a little over 500 pounds.AdvertisementTo get rid of the sweet juice residues, I had to clean out the barrel with a solution. One ounce bleach can be mixed with five gallons water, or you can opt for vinegar and baking soda. You can do the job however you like, but you need to ensure that the barrel is clean before you begin collecting water in it.These are some of the things that I have learned along the way:If you can use gravity to your advantage, and place the barrel on an elevated base, then you don't need a water pump.Your base should be level and balanced.55 gallons is a lot of water.Fine mesh is required at all entry points. Otherwise, debris could clog up the system and attract bugs to it.You should keep your barrel out of direct sunlight as algae can grow in it. To keep the sun out, you can paint your barrel.AdvertisementIt is quite simple to build a rain barrel. Rain barrels are equipped with inlets that allow you to direct water. You can modify your downspout so water flows directly into the outlet. For overflow, add another hole towards the barrel's top. Then direct the water from the foundation to another barrel.Next, drill a hole in the barrel at the bottom and attach a spigot. You can then use the garden hose to direct water to the desired location from the spigot. The pressure you get will depend on how high the barrel is placed.
