Conserve Water with a Home-Made Rain Barrel!

Water is easily one of the earth’s most important commodities, and our consumption keeps rising while reservoirs are sucked dry. This means that water conservation should be on everyone’s to-do list. But don’t worry, there’s an easy way to conserve water at home. Start collecting rain water!

Rain barrels have been used for a long time and they’re starting to make a comeback in cities like Atlanta. At Simply Green, we couldn’t be happier to see it, either. Follow this quick guide to make your own water barrel system at home.

Making a Rain Water Collection System

To start, you’ll need a rain barrel. This can be an old wooden cask, a 55-gallon drum, or any large barrel. There are quite a few places right here in Atlanta that sell rain barrels. You’ll also need a half inch spigot with metal and rubber washers.

The first thing you want to do is place your barrel on a level, raised platform. Position your barrel on top of the platform and under a downspout. The height of the platform is up to you, just make sure there’s enough clearance for a water pail to fit under the spigot.

Next, drill a half-inch hole an inch from the bottom of your barrel. Connect your spigot and tighten up the washers so water can’t leak out. Then you’ll need to add your filter to stop debris from falling into your barrel. You can also add a screen onto your gutters as an extra filter.

Sit Back and Wait for the Rain!

That’s about it! Now you’re ready to water your veggies and flowers. This simple addition, along with Simply Green’s Hydretain program, can save you buckets on your water bill and reduce your water consumption immensely. So, go ahead and give it a shot. And feel free to give us a call for more information!