How to make a rain barrel / Lakes Area Clean Waters Council

A rain barrel collects and stores rainwater from your rooftop to use later for things like lawn and garden watering. Water collected in a rain barrel would normally flow through your downspout, onto a paved surface, and eventually into a storm drain.

Making a rain barrel is as easy as 1,2,3
Step 1

Use a 6" hole saw, a saber saw, a keyhole saw or a drywall saw to cut a perfectly round 6” hole on the top of your barrel.
Drill two holes with a 29/32” drill bit, one towards the top for an overflow and one towards the bottom of the barrel for the faucet.
Next use a 3/4" NPT pipe tap and twist it into the upper 29/32" hole, then untwist the tap and back it out of the hole, then repeat the same process for the lower 29/32" hole.
Rinse your barrel out thoroughly, as it previously had a food product in it. Avoid using bleach, as it is environmentally harmful in the storm drains. For an environmentally safe soap solution use 2 teaspoons of castile soap and 2 teaspoons of vinegar or lemon juice for every gallon of water used to clean your barrel.

Rain barrel

Step 2

Twist in the threaded side of the hose adapter into the 3/4" threaded hole towards the top of the barrel.
Prepare the threaded side of the brass faucet by:
- Wrapping it tightly with teflon tape, make four or five rotations until all the threads are covered; or
- Applying a thin ribbon of Kitchen and Bath All Purpose Adhesive Caulk, or similar sealant.
Twist in the threaded and now prepared end of the faucet into the 3/4" threaded hole towards the bottom of the barrel.

Rain Barrel

Step 3

Cover the 6" hole in the top by placing the 6" louvered screen onto the barrel with the louvered side up and the screen side down.
Slide a hose onto the hose adapter at the top of barrel to direct the overflow water away from your home.
Place two cinder blocks under the selected downspout and place the barrel on this raised base.
Cut your downspout about 4" above the top of the barrel, add an elbow, and make any final adjustments to the base and barrel.
Add a hose on the faucet or keep it available to fill a watering can.
Enjoy your rainbarrel!

Rain Barrel

Tools List
Drill
6" Hole Saw (a saber saw, a keyhole saw, or a drywall saw will also work)
29/32" Drill Bit
3/4" Pipe Tap

Materials List
55 Gallon Barrel
Louvered Screen
3/4" Brass Faucet
Teflon Tape or All Purpose Caulk
3/4" Hose Adapter