Project Information
Not a big project or anything but I wanted to get the idea out there in case someone else could use it.
I've looked for the big 55gal blue barrels or the IBC totes for a couple years and I'm either missing them or there ain't any clean ones around me. After watching some videos on collecting rain water again this spring I had about talked myself into using some old plastic storage totes that I have piled up in my garage. It was shortly after that thought that I seen a guy that was using what appeared to be trash cans. I'd never considered that but it was as close to a barrel as I was probably gonna get so I decided to give it a go. The cans were purchased from my local rural king for around $15 each. The water spout and a little hose (mayb 10inched long but built like a garden hose) came from eBay for around $25 together. My guess is the whole barrel set up cost around $75 if you include taxes. Each can holds 35 gallons. I used some old plumbing pieces for the over flow line. The base is made with garden timber's as posts and very old and used deck boards treated in what I'll call "farmers" stain that was free.
So far it's been a handy little system. I've used it for everything from washing my hands to watering the garden that's about 40 yards away. My kids have a blast with it too. They played in the mud pretty heavy yesterday evening so they got to get washed off under the cold water before running to the house for a bath. I intend to add a couple more. One closer to the cars and one closer to the garden on the back of my garage so I can also make a little garden table to clean up stuff before bringing it inside
I've looked for the big 55gal blue barrels or the IBC totes for a couple years and I'm either missing them or there ain't any clean ones around me. After watching some videos on collecting rain water again this spring I had about talked myself into using some old plastic storage totes that I have piled up in my garage. It was shortly after that thought that I seen a guy that was using what appeared to be trash cans. I'd never considered that but it was as close to a barrel as I was probably gonna get so I decided to give it a go. The cans were purchased from my local rural king for around $15 each. The water spout and a little hose (mayb 10inched long but built like a garden hose) came from eBay for around $25 together. My guess is the whole barrel set up cost around $75 if you include taxes. Each can holds 35 gallons. I used some old plumbing pieces for the over flow line. The base is made with garden timber's as posts and very old and used deck boards treated in what I'll call "farmers" stain that was free.
So far it's been a handy little system. I've used it for everything from washing my hands to watering the garden that's about 40 yards away. My kids have a blast with it too. They played in the mud pretty heavy yesterday evening so they got to get washed off under the cold water before running to the house for a bath. I intend to add a couple more. One closer to the cars and one closer to the garden on the back of my garage so I can also make a little garden table to clean up stuff before bringing it inside