Looking to collect rain water? Build your own DIY Rainwater collection system and harvest earth's natural resource whenever rain comes to your homestead.
DIY Rainwater Collection System For Homesteaders
Rainwater collection is a great way to reduce your water usage. Did you know the average person wastes about 30 gallons of water per day? Holy moly! Just imagine if you could save at least a third of your water usage. Well, you can! A rainwater collection system is a really great way to recycle water during those hot summer months when water conservation is at its most necessary!
However, exercise caution. Some states enforce strict rainwater harvesting regulations. In Colorado, for example, collecting rainwater is illegal, as it is public property and belongs to the Colorado water table. Those who collect this water are diminishing the supply for agriculture. See more about rainwater regulations here.
Rainwater collection has been practiced for centuries. The growing movement for DIY water conservation only confirms our need to recycle our natural resources and replenish our own depleting supply. This step-by-step tutorial will get you started on your DIY rainwater collection system:
Materials:
- Paint strainer
- 5 gallon bucket
- 55 gallon drum with lid
- Downspout fittings
- Gutter strainer
- Cinder blocks (3)
- 3/4″ spigot with 1/4″ turn ball valve
- Permanent black marker
- Jigsaw
- Power drill with 7/8″ spade bit
- Half-round bastard file
- Utility knife
- 1 1'4″ galvanized wood screws
Step 1:
With the 7/8″ spade bit, drill a starter hole in the side of the 5 gallon bucket.
Use your jigsaw to cut around the bucket.
Step 2:
Using your permanent marker, trace the top of the 5 gallon bucket on top of the 55 gallon drum.
Step 3:
Just like you did with the top of the 5 gallon bucket, drill a hole in the top of the drum with your 7/8″ spade bit to get you started. Following the guideline you created with the permanent marker, cut out the circle with the jigsaw.
The top of the 5 gallon bucket should fit snug in the opening of the 55 gallon drum.
Step 4:
Drill a hole at the bottom side of the drum with the 7/8″ spade bit.
File down the inside of the hole with your half-round bastard file.
Screw in your 3/4″ spigot until it fits securely. It may need to be filed a little more to fit just right.
Step 5:
Prop the cinder blocks upright in a triangle manner next to the house. Place your drum on top of the cinder blocks.
Step 6:
Using the existing downspout from your gutters, add an extension to run down into the rainwater collection.
Measure and mark where you need to cut the fitting so that the end will run into the top of your collection barrel.
Cut the extension with a utility knife and fit to existing downspout.
Use brackets to secure the fittings to the side of the house.
Step 7:
Trace the end of the downspout on the lid of the 5 gallon bucket. This will keep large objects from falling into the collection system.
Use the 7/8″ spade bit to drill starter holes.
Cut the remainder of your lid with the jigsaw.
Place the lid back on top of the bucket to check for a proper fit.
Step 8:
Standing water can be a haven for mosquitoes, so we want to keep them out of the rain barrel.
Tie a knot in the paint strainer and secure to the top of the bucket.
Step 9:
Place a gutter strainer in the opening of the gutter on the roof. This will keep large debris from making its way down the fittings and potentially clogging the gutters.
This rainwater collection system will be up and running in no time. Even your little ones will enjoy it!
Very cool.
Excellent information – I’ll start gathering materials ASAP!
Do you drink the water collected from an asphalt shingled roof? I’ve been warned against this due to the petroleum base of the shingles.
Never drink the water straight out of the bucket!
There are a handful of ways you can purify your water for drinking. I’d recommend boiling it – 10 minutes will do the trick.
I would think other possible contaminates would be of more concern than the minor amount of petroleum base leaching from the shingles. Now if that were your only source of drinking water than it might be of some concern but even then the other possible contaminates would be a greater one.
If they are available in your area the 300 gallon food grade tanks that are used to ship condiments and seasonings to the large food processing plants would work even better. There are several food processing plants in the area I live and those tanks are readily available here. I have four plumbed together and can gather a little over 1,200 hundred gallons of rainwater for use on my garden. The tanks come on a metal or plastic pallet with a metal frame around them. I have not tried it yet but you should be able to double stack them for greater water pressure.