Materials
- Needed:
- Jumbo Black Plastic Yard Trash Can
- Flexible Elbow Spout
- Garden Hose Bib
- Bulkhead Gasket
- Threaded Pipe
- Garden Hose
- Silicone Sealant
Tools Needed:
- Drill
- Drill bit for removing screws
- Drill bit attachment for spigot hole (Optional)
- Utility Knife
- Jigsaw (Optional)
- Black Marker
What Is A Water Catchment System?
The system collects and stores rainwater off of your roof for you to use on your landscaping and gardens. It's ecological and economical!
Directions: 1. Choose a rain pipe that fits your home’s individual needs. 2. Place trashcan in front of drainpipe. Place bottom of Flexible Elbow Spout at the location in which you will attach it to the trashcan. Use the Spout as a measuring stick to mark on the rain pipe where you will make your cut. Make your cut marks with black marker. 3. Using the drill, remove the screws from the pipe fitting and remove the rain pipe. 4. Following your cut marks, use the jigsaw to cut through the rain pipe. Rain pipes are made of many different types of materials. Some are tin and some are PVC plastic. Ours is PVC plastic. We could have chosen a utility knife. However, we decided to make the job go faster with a jigsaw. Use the appropriate tool for the job. 5. Reattach the rain pipe to the exterior of the house, using the same screws and pipe fittings. You will have to remove the lower pipe fitting from the exterior wall and place it hire now that our rain pipe has been cut. 6. Attach the Flexible Elbow Spout to the rain pipe. The Spout will fit over the rain pipe. You don’t have to seal the seam, as any water that does into the seam will be drained into the trashcan receptacle. Use the pipe fitting to hold in the spout. 7. Next, cut the holes in your trashcan receptacle for the Flexible Elbow Spout and the Garden Hose Bib. 8. Cut the hole for the Flexible Elbow Spout by tracing the bottom of the spout on the lid of the trashcan. Use those cut marks and cut out your hole with the utility knife. 9. For the Garden Hose Bib, you will use the Bulkhead Gasket as in indicator of how big to make your hole. You will make the hole for your Garden Hose Bib at the bottom of your trashcan. You can use the utility knife for cut out your hole, or if you have one, you can use a drill bit attachment the size of your Bulkhead Gasket to make the hole. 10. Once you have made your holes you will affix your Flexible Elbow Spout and Garden Hose Bib to the Trashcan Receptacle. 11. Connect your Garden Hose Bib to your Bulkhead Gasket. Place the Garden Hose Bib unit into the trashcan, the male part of the Bulkhead Gasket flush against the outside of the trashcan. Inside the trashcan, attach the female part of the Bulkhead Gasket. Attach the Threaded Pipe to the female part of the Bulkhead Gasket and tighten firmly. 12. Place the trashcan back under the rain pipe. Place the lid on the trashcan, with the hole under the Flexible Elbow Spout. Place the bottom of the Flexible Elbow Spout into the hole of the trashcan lid. Just like a bendable straw, the Flexible Elbow Straw can be adjusted to fit the height of your individual trashcan. Seal the seam with silicone sealant. 13. Attach your hose to the Garden Hose Bib. Fill the Trashcan Receptacle with water. 14. Turn on Garden Hose Bib and enjoy your Water Catchment System for your landscape and gardening needs!
Total System Cost:
The whole thing costs under $30 dollars. The trashcan was $10, the Flexible Elbow Spout was $3.99, and the spigot was $15.00.
Tips:
Why Are We Using A Trash Can?
There are many receptacles you can use. Some of them you can find at feed stores. Some are made storage tanks specifically for this purpose that can cost $3000 or even more. All of them are much more expensive than a simple black, plastic trashcan that works just as well for our purposes. This one cost us $10.
How Do We Maintain The System?
Definitely keep it covered to avoid insects. And also, keep it dark. Direct sunlight can encourage algae to grow.
Can We Drink This Water?
There are systems where you can use the water for drinking. Some people have homes where their water comes solely from these systems. With this one, I suggest using it for your landscaping and gardening only.
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