How To Build A Rainwater Collection System 

Next step - don't use the water during a period of a lot of rain and watch it all back up into your gutter because you didn't install an overflow drain at the top.

Very good video. I especially liked the idea of using the top of a 5 gallon bucket. I may use that method on a 350 gallon tote container to drain water from the roof of my detached garage. 10 years ago I made 2 rain barrels using 35 gallon garbage cans. I cut the inner portions of the tops off. I then placed aluminum window screen over the barrel, snugged down the remaining lid and secured the lid with sheet metal screws to the barrel. That way I had a very large collection area. I placed the downspout adapter a few inches above the screen. When water flows, it goes right through the screen and any debris such as leaves collect on the screen. I have a lot of trees in the area but I only have to brush the leaves from the screen every couple of weeks. We get about 70 inches of rain per year. It has worked great for 10 years.

Probably one of the better instructionals out there and now I have direction on building a better rain collection system off my greenhouse - thank you

I have used my gutter system to catch rain. This shows me exactly what to do, to upgrade my catch system. You were right to the point and mentioned every detail. I can do this! Thank you.

I love the filter idea. I recently did a rain barrel for my camp and put in a filter similar to this. After watching countless videos on rain harvesting, this one stands out, thanks. Oh yeah, I DO have to put in an overflow....next time I'm at camp, add the second barrel and overflow.

The State of Georgia encourages the collection of rain water. You can even get a state tax credit up to $2500.00 to pay for a state approved collection system. They even provide an extensive pdf with tons of information ranging from one barrel to systems that are tens of thousands of gallons.

Loved your presentation! Short, sweet, and straight to the point! 👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻 Oh… and don’t worry about the extras, anyone watching this should (should) have enough technical understanding to add things they’d like to have such as “overflow” system, rather than calling you out for it like I saw in a comment below. Cuz if that’s the case then you also forgot to add a water purifier and rig a water cooler to it… ya’mean?! 😂😂😂 . Great job man! 👍🏼

Good video, didn't catch on to the 5 gallan pail and paint strainer at first, but excellent idea. I need to build one and this is a good plan.

Simple, efficient & straight to the point.

I am setting up my rainwater collection. I love the the filter idea. Great video! Thanks for sharing.

Drill a hole at the top of that drum and run pipe downward so gravity carries it to another drum

Wow, looks so easy to make. I need 2 of these, our water in town is awful. Always orange and smells bad. I'm ready. I like the easy ideas to get off grid.

Good information, especially for folks with polluted ground/city water. Thanks

STEP BY STEP INSTRUCTIONS.....FANTASTIC VIDEO! as far as a more stable base goes....can do that too!!!! Change it up to suit your needs. Thank You for posting this information.

Great video. Thanks for making that clear, and BRIEF 😁

Tnx for sharing your video am living in Jamaica where I have regular rain fall

Great! I always wanted to go green.

Perfectly detailed.

Spigot is at hardware stores. If you want a stronger fitting for the spigot use pfte tape on the threads. A runoff system would require another drum and a line from the original drum.

Thank you for sharing this. Its a great idea though but with some improvement. You need to think on how to handle the overflow and I think using just 3 cinder blocks is not secure enough to carry 55 gallons of water.... Anyway, well done!

Watching this was blissful!👍🏻

don't forget an overflow at the top. otherwise blowback, could tear up your filter or breach it, putting all the trash it otherwise collected into the rain barrel

Concisely brilliant.

Great Video! Project costs less than $150 and would be great asset for your organic garden.

Looks pretty good. But your forgot one important thing. OVERFLOW!!!! That barrel needs an overflow installed.

Best video yet.

I did a science fair project in HS where I collected rainwater. Long story short, I ended up drinking water which I later tested positive for high levels of lead washed off of the old paint from the tin roof near my collection system. So if you’re doing anything like this, don’t do that.

Thank you!!! Awesome video and super helpful! Bravo!

This is great! TY so much!

Thanks

very nice.

I wish if I had a big land.... I could make this dream become true.

Great video !

I like you tube I have a 55 rain barrel it works so good I think everyone try it too .

Thank you very much!!!!

Briljant video!

Superb...short and precise info....

thanks, great idea, simple to follow.

It would be a good idea to keep kids away from that barrel sitting on 3 concrete blocks.

Nice work on the video, however it isn't clear what happens if the water overfills the barrel. You probably want to have a system to get excess water away from the foundation of your home.

Thanks well done

You explained that so well Thank you

Simpler/cheaper way - Just open the whole top. Cover with window screen doubled over. Use bungee cords to wrap the screen below the top lip to secure the screen to the barrel. I use that method with a trash can to collect rain water. No mosquitoes, no debris in the can. Can add in fertilizer if desired. I will every once in a while have to tip the can over and hose it out as window screen will let in a little dirt. Over time it can build up/ But I only have to do that about once a month. I saw author did not mention overflow for when the container is full and it still is raining.

Going to make this !!!! thanks so much

Who's here after coronavirus ? No one ? Only me ? Okay I'll make cuz there is no water in markets

Nice video well made. I'm wondering why you had to make the white bucket part why not just have the downspout go into the barrel?

This is a wonderful idea. I’m curious if a garden hose would work attached to the spigot. Would there be enough gravity to work?

Awesome video

Great storage for an outdoor shower.

nice tips guys

Thank you so much and I subscribed! 😊

Nice job good helpers

I did not understand part 5 where you put the filter in the bucket. Could it be that it has holes or how does the water come out?

Thank you for a very detailed and very good video. Really helpful.

Good job

Very nice

Thanks for sharing ! And if it is provided by God and on my land ,it is not stealing! What a laugh,whats next, stealing air because we have to Breathe!!!!!

Could this be modified to allow a sand or carbon filtering layer in the paint strainer?

You need to add an overflow pipe to that barrel

نحن نتكلم عن حاجات أسر لذة ابدؤا بحر اماكن في الأرض لتخزين المياه في المنزل الواحد او شراء خزانات ماء كبيره الحجم تحفظ بها مياه الأمطار بهذه الطريقه او حولوا الماء للخزان المنزلي الموجود في المنزل وكله يعود لكم ولكن بعد التأكد من ان الماء الداخل عليه مصافي تقي دخول أوراق الشجر او اي امر من مخلفات الهواء ويترك ليركد قبل الشرب منه ولكنه طاهر ويمكن الشرب منه من غير خوف . توقيع الدابه

Nice system, hope to complete mine this weekend. What do you do with the barrels in the winter? Not sure where you are, but I'm in upstate NY and the winters here get pretty cold. I'm thinking that you'd have to disconnect the system or the water in the barrels would freeze and the barrels would split.

Before you do this, check that laws in your area. In some places it's "illegal" to collect rain water. It's silly I know...sad but true.

I would recommend a hole saw but instead of a spade bit. More clean cut and less likely to damage the barrel

Speaking from experience, your collection drum needs an overflow so if it fills all the way, it puts water away from the house and foundation.

Sadly, one thing to consider before constructing this project is to check your local laws to see if it is allowed. A friend of mine, after constructing a nice four barrel system a couple of years ago, was told by the city to remove it because it was considered stealing water that would normally be going into the storm drains that would be collected by the city. Needless to say, I was completely floored by that tidbit of info. I guess they want to be able to charge you for the water that you could have gotten for free.

Wonderful video, just wondering about first flush?

Nice , and , informative vedio ! 👍 Thank u !

I would build a stable platform. What do you do if it overflows? This is a very good idea, I will try it. Thanks for sharing.

Perfecto !

Wow, thats a Very very good job done , hats off to you m8..

It's easy to collect. The hard part is using it. If there was a way to get it in my toilet, or over to my garden I would do it. Cinder block height doesn't produce much pressure.

Brilliant !

I've never done this before 1st timer. As you put the spicket On the blue Barrel How do you secure it?

Forgot to mention that the barrel needs to be food grade so you’re not spreading poison around your yard.

Good info - thank you!

Just wondering. You say drill a 7/8 inch hole in the drum then screw in the 3/4 inch spiggot. Wouldnt the 7/8 inch hole be to big for the 3/4 inch spiggot?

Supercool. I like it !

55 gallons will not keep up. The general rule of thumb is per 1,000 sq. Ft. In a 1" rain you can generate 630 gallons.

What about winter time when the rain barrel is emptied and put away to prevent water collection freezing and breaking the barrel?

a proper fit is importat step ?

Super sir

Estou montando o meu equipamento de capitação de água em minha residência , o seu exemplo me inspirou fazer o meu, obrigado.

excellent Thank you so much!

Nice video 👍🏼 at 4:26... no o-ring is needed?...or did i miss that?

Deberia ponerlo en un lugar mas seguro tres bloques no me parece seguro

Awesome!

My question is why not just dump the water into the rain barrel, why do you need the 5 gallon bucket, just seems like more work thats not needed.

great video education. now, why do so many videos ignore personal protective equipment? If you don't want to use it, at least mention it for the butterfinger viewers. Safety glasses since drilling and small fragments could fly about. Leather gloves when using that exacto knife cutting the plastic downspout. Heck plastic edges are just as sharp as the knife (or a metal downspout corner).

What's the bucket for? Seems like a waste of the extra plastic. Why not just cut a smaller whole in the lid of the barrel and attach a little bit of screen material across the top of that hole?

Hi I’m new to this? I am a Louisiana guy living in Illinois. I can harvest water but my question deals with cold weather. The frost line is 3 feet. In this set up i would have ice. I know i can buy large tanks but would have to bury them ? At least 4-6 feet. I don’t want to burn my batteries with heat tape or have a propane heater going all the time. Any ideas ? Thanks

nice and simple more americans are being responsible,, i will do this for my garden this year

The plastic bucket will never hold up in heat and extreme cold. Stainless steel is best or copper.

Nice....

Sharing the information again

what do about over flow. if rains lot that over fill with water. problem thread garden house top like soker house have out yard or around plants. that way if over fills won't go all over ground.

:58 sec. “1/2 round bastard file”. Did he just say that?. Yes he did!

how do you prevent overflow in heavier rains/rainy season?

We have 5000 gallons of rain water in our system. I'm posting videos of the system build now.

Question - What would i do to keep it from freezing in the winter.......... I love ny

I am new to the idea of off grid. If I built a rain system I would need to figure a way to stop from freezing. I live in Illinois and have plenty of rain but if I can’t drill a well then rain would be my solution. The only problem would be many tanks and how to stop from freezing. I also will install solar and don’t want to burn power. Any ideas???