Water-Conserving Rain Barrels

Decrease water use, and your utility bills, by building a system that collects runoff right from your own roof.

Photography by Brian Francis

You can't control the heat, but you can help hydrate your plants in hot summer months with rainwater, captured in rain barrels that you've constructed yourself. You can connect two containers, as we've done here, or create a smaller system with just one barrel. Then, fill up a watering can, or attach your eco-friendly creation to a garden hose, and give your plants a drink.

Instructions

Choose the location.
- Site your rain barrels under a downspout, in an aesthetically appropriate spot. Keep in mind, too, that this is a gravity-based system, so it should be in one of the higher areas of your yard, if possible.
- If your lawn lacks a level base under a downspout, use concrete blocks, pavers, or treated lumber to build a flat platform for the barrels. Your base should be approximately 4 feet square.
Prepare the garbage cans.
- Remove and reroute the downspout to drain into Rain Barrel 1 (see Figure 1). You may wish to ask a Lowe's employee to help you with your downspout hardware needs.
- Using your drill/driver with a 3-inch hole saw attachment, cut a 3-inch hole into the lid of Rain Barrel 1, and insert the 3-inch atrium grate. (The downspout will fit on the atrium grate when you put the lid back on.)
- Create relief holes. With your drill/driver and a 1-inch Forstner bit, drill several 1-inch holes around the perimeter of the barrels just below the lids.
  Tip: If you live in a region prone to mosquitoes, you may want to cover the relief holes and atrium grate with fine-mesh screen (#89305) to prevent breeding. To do this, cut a 2-inch-square piece of screen for each relief hole. With silicone sealant, attach the pieces to the holes on the inside of the barrel. (You can rough up, or scratch, the inside surface of the barrel to allow the sealant to adhere more easily.) Cut a 4-inch-square piece of screen for the atrium grate, and attach it in the same manner. For additional protection, add a mosquito disk (#92460) to the water when it accumulates. This will prevent the larvae from developing.
Connect the two rain barrels (see Figure 2).
- With your drill/driver and 1-inch Forstner bit, drill a 1-inch hole approximately 1 inch from the bottom of each rain barrel.
- Apply silicone sealant inside and outside of the perimeters of the 1-inch holes.
- Place an O ring on each adapter.
- Screw the adapters into the 1-inch holes, and place another O ring over the threads of each adapter on the insides of both rain barrels.
- Screw a threaded coupling onto each adapter, and apply another coat of silicone sealant to the joints of the O rings, both inside and outside of the rain barrels. Allow the sealant to partially cure.
- Use a PVC cutter to cut two 2-inch-long pieces of PVC pipe.
- For each barrel connector, you will now prime, glue, and rotate the components in the following order: First, apply purple primer to the inside of the adapter, the outside of the PVC pipe, and the inside of a fitting. Second, apply PVC cement to the inside of the adapter and to the outside of 1 inch of one end of the PVC pipe. Third, insert the cemented end of the PVC pipe into the adapter, and rotate one quarter of a turn.
- Repeat the process for the next component: You've already completed the priming, so apply PVC cement to the outside of the exposed end of the PVC pipe, and also to the inside of the fitting. Insert the PVC pipe into the fitting, and rotate one quarter of a turn.
- Repeat Steps 3g and 3h for the Rain Barrel 2 connector.
- Attach the washer connection hose to the fittings of each barrel connector.
Attach the drain (see Figure 3).
- With your drill/driver and 1-inch Forstner bit, drill a hole in Rain Barrel 2 for the drain system. Locate the hole in a spot that will give you easy access to the drain.
- Repeat Steps 3b through 3e to begin constructing the drain.
- Cut three more 2-inch pieces of PVC pipe.
- Apply purple primer and PVC cement to the first 1 inch of the outside of one piece of PVC pipe, and then apply purple primer and PVC cement to the interior of the adapter. Insert the PVC pipe into the adapter, and rotate one quarter of a turn.
- Repeat this priming, gluing, and rotating process to attach the remaining parts of the drain system in order: the PVC ball valve socket, a 2-inch piece of PVC pipe, the elbow, a 2-inch piece PVC pipe, and a fitting.
Use your collected rainwater.
- Put the lids on the rain barrels, fit the downspout on the atrium grate, and wait for rain. (If you need to weigh down your rain barrels before the first rain, simply add a few gallons of water.)
- Distribute the collected water to your plants by attaching a garden hose to the drain assembly or turning the valve to fill a watering can.

Illustration

Please feel free to post a comment and someone from LowesCreativeIdeas.com will review your submission. You can check back after 24 hours to see if your comment has been posted.

Fields in BOLD are required to preview and submit your comment.

Your Name (displayed with comment)
close[X]

Instructions

Your email will only be used in the event that one of our moderators needs to clarify your comment. It will be used strictly in the context of or relating to your comment.

Your email will NOT be used for marketing purposes or shared with any 3rd parties.

Your Email
(Why do we ask?)
Your Location (eg, 'Chicago, IL')
Your Photo

Have a photo? Attach it to your comment here.
Make sure your photo meets the following requirements:
Max File Size: 2 MB
File Types: jpeg/jpg, gif
Photos will be scaled to fit this space.

Upload Photo
Your Comment

Character count: 0

(500 character limit)
Enter the above image text

close[X]

If you do not see the security words image:

• Make sure the version of your browser is current. For example, you need to have at least Internet Explorer 5.0 or Netscape 6.0 or higher.

• Make sure your graphics (pictures and images) are turned on or enabled in your browser.

• Refresh your browser and try again. You may want to copy your comment though as it will not be saved.

Can't see the image?

close[X]

Instructions

Please enter the words you see in the box, in order and separated by a space. Doing so helps prevent automated programs from abusing this service.

If you are not sure what the words are, either enter your best guess or refresh the browser for a new set image.

What is this?
Terms & Conditions Terms of Use & Guidelines Lowe’s Creative Ideas Web Community Lowe’s and its affiliates (“Lowe’s”) offer this Creative Ideas Web Community (“Community”) to users to enable them to share projects and ideas and discuss how to use and enjoy a variety of home improvement products and services. If you have questions or concerns regarding a Lowe’s home improvement store or the services or products offered by Lowe’s, please contact at http://www.lowes.com/lowes/lkn?action=topicSelect&topic=contactUs These Terms of Use & Guidelines (“Community Terms”) govern your use of and conduct associated with the Community, including all comments, information, and any other content submitted by you or other users. If you submit any content on or through the Community, you are acknowledging and accepting these Community Terms, as well as Lowe’s Terms and Conditions of Use (“General Terms”) for Lowes.com and Lowe’s Privacy and Security Statements (“Privacy Terms”). To the extent of any conflict between these Community Terms and the General Terms, Privacy Terms, these Community Terms shall control with respect to the Community. Lowe’s has the right, but not the obligation, to monitor, review, revise, and/or remove any content posted by a user. Lowe’s assumes no liability for any content posted by a user and Lowe’s does not regularly review all such content. You are solely responsible for any content that you submit, the consequences of posting that content, and your reliance on any communications found in the Community. By submitting any content you acknowledge and agree to the following: • Lowe's has the right but not the obligation to display all content you provide for public view; • The content you submit is non-confidential for all purposes; • You are not using a false e-mail address, impersonating any person or entity, or otherwise misrepresenting yourself or the origin of the content you submit; • You represent and warrant that you own or otherwise control all of the rights to content you submit; • All content you post is accurate, truthful, and lawful; • Use of the content you submit does not violate these Community Terms; • Use of the content you submit will not cause injury or harm to any entity or person; • Use of the content you submit will not give rise to any claim against Lowe’s, and the content you submit shall not, in the judgment of Lowe’s, expose Lowe’s or any of its customers or suppliers to any liability or detriment of any type; • You grant to Lowe’s and all Community users an unrestricted, irrevocable, world-wide, royalty-free license (with the right to sublicense through multiple tiers of sublicensees) and right: (i) to use, reproduce, display, perform, modify, adapt, publish, translate, and transmit and distribute your content for any purpose and in any media; (ii) to rate, review, comment on and tag your content; and (iii) to send and distribute your content via E-mail, Instant Messenger or otherwise over or through the Internet or any other electronic communications system; • With regard to any media content that you submit (such as photos, audio, etc.), you warrant that you have permission from all persons appearing in such media content for you to make the submission and grant the rights described herein, and you certify that any person pictured in the submitted media content (or, if a minor, his/her parent/legal guardian) authorizes Lowe’s to use, copy, print, display, reproduce, modify, publish, post, transmit and distribute the media content and any material included in such media content. • You agree to defend, indemnify and hold harmless Lowe's, its affiliates and subsidiaries, and each of their respective directors, officers, employees, shareholders, agents, attorneys, assigns and successors-in-interest, and third-party service providers from and against any and all liabilities, damages, losses, claims, demands, assessments, actions, causes of action, costs (including attorneys' fees and expenses) and any of them, arising out of or resulting from the content you submit, your failure to comply with the terms set forth herein, or your violation of any law or the rights of any third party; • In addition to all other remedies available, you acknowledge that Lowe’s has the right to (i) remove your content from the Community or refuse to include your content in the Community, (ii) suspend or terminate your account or refuse to grant you access to any current or future use of the Community or any other Lowe’s service, with or without warning, if Lowe’s, in its sole discretion, believes you have: (1) violated or tried to violate the rights of Lowe’s or others; or (2) violated or tried to violate or otherwise acted inconsistent with these Community Terms or any other applicable terms or conditions. • Lowe's assumes no liability for any content posted by you or any third-party; and • All content you submit is subject to each of these Community Terms, the General Terms, and the Privacy Terms, collectively. You further agree and represent that you will not submit any content: • that is illegal, obscene, vulgar, offensive, threatening, harassing, defamatory, libelous, slanderous, hateful, abusive, discriminatory, racially or religiously biased or offensive, pornographic, profane, sexually explicit, indecent or embarrassing to any other person or entity, or otherwise restricts or inhibits any other user from using and enjoying the Community; • invasive of privacy, infringing of intellectual property rights, injurious or objectionable to third parties, • that is fraudulent or otherwise constitutes or contains false, inaccurate or misleading indications of origin, endorsement or statements of fact; • that violates, plagiarizes, misappropriates or infringes the rights of third parties including, without limitation, copyright, trademark, trade secret, confidentiality, contract, patent, rights of privacy or publicity or any other intellectual property or proprietary right; • that violates any law, statute, ordinance, code or regulation; • that consists of or contains advertisements, political campaigning, commercial solicitations, chain letters or pyramid schemes of any kind, mass mailings, any form of "spam", embedded links, or references to other products, offers, Websites, URLs, or viruses. For the purposes of these Community Terms, "viruses" includes, without limitation, software routines, codes or instructions, hardware components or combinations thereof, that are designed to (a) permit unauthorized access to software; or (b) disable, delete, modify, damage, or erase software, hardware or data, including, but not limited to, components that are commonly referred to as "viruses," "back doors," "time bombs," "Trojan Horses," "worms" or "drop dead devices"; • that consists of or contains e-mail addresses, phone numbers, physical addresses or other forms of personal or contact information; and • for which you were compensated or provided any consideration by any third party. Lowe's has no obligation to post any content that you or anyone else submits. Without limiting the foregoing, Lowe’s reserves the right not to post your content if it contains any of the following or violates other posted or referenced guidelines: • Keep it clean: Obscenities, profanity, discriminatory language, or other language not suitable for public display. • No ads: Advertising or referencing other products, offers, or websites is strictly prohibited. • No personal information: Email addresses, phone numbers, mailing addresses or other personal information will not be accepted for posting. • No content that identifies any specific store or employee. • No harassing content: Do not attack other users or make overly critical comments regarding other reviews. • No off-topic information. Lowe’s shall have no liability to users of the Community or any other person or entity for refusing or failing to post, or removing, editing, or disclosing, any content that you or anyone else submits. Copyright Infringement If you believe any content accessible on or from the Community (including the content of other users’ posts and submissions) infringes your copyright rights, you may request removal of such content (or access thereto) by submitting a DMCA Notification at http://lowes.com/lowes/lkn?action=topicSelect&topic=dmcaNAT. If your submitted content was removed from the Community (or access thereto is disabled) due to an allegation of copyright infringement, and you believe such content is not infringing, or that you have the authorization from the copyright owner, the copyright owner's agent, or pursuant to the law, to post such content, you may submit a DMCA Counter-Notification at http://lowes.com/lowes/lkn?action=topicSelect&topic=dmcaCN. In an effort to protect the rights of copyright owners, Lowe’s maintains a policy for the termination, in appropriate circumstances, of the accounts of repeat infringers.
I have read and agree to all of the Terms & Conditions
Please review your comment for accuracy and click submit. To edit your comment, click edit.
Once submitted LowesCreativeIdeas.com will review your submission. You can check back after 24 hours to see if your comment has been posted.

Total Votes: 6

close[X]

These "social bookmarking" services make it easier to share and manage your favorite online content.

StumbleUpon, digg, and del.icio.us help you gather content from around the web, describe it how you see fit, and tag it for easy sorting. These sites also allow you to see what other people are gathering and tagging (if they've made it public), and find new content that may interest you.

Social networking sites like Facebook and MySpace also allow you to share content that you find interesting, with people who visit or subscribe to your personal profile.

(What are these?)