Content adapted with permission from the Marion County Soil and Water Conservation District. More information can be found here. Credit for the building instructions go to Heather Buck, CBBEL & Ron Lauster, Marion County SWCD.

What is a rain barrel?

A rain barrel is utilized to catch and store rainwater from your roof until is it needed for
landscaping purposes (not for drinking!).

Build Your Own Rain Barrel

To keep in mind:

• Plastic 55-gallon drums are recommended for safely collecting water with minimal leaking
• Holes must be cut into the top of the barrel. It is important to cover these hole with fiberglass
window screen to prevent mosquitoes and other disease-carrying insects from entering the
barrel.
• The top drain should remain closed until you decide to add a second rain barrel, creating a
series of collection units.
• The bottom faucet should be kept in the closed position until you are ready to use water from
your rain barrel.

Tools

• Electric drill
• Electric jigsaw
• 1” spade drill bit
• 7/8” spade drill bit
• Utility knife
• Marker
• Rubber mallet

Supplies

• Barrel
• 1 - 3/4” faucet
• 1 - 3/4 “adapter SxFPT
• 1 - 3/4“ male hose to FIP adapter
• 1 - 3/4” garden hose cap
• 1 roll of Teflon tape
• 1 all purpose caulk or plumbing sealant
• fiberglass window screen

Information about where to purchase supplies in Indianapolis DOWNLOAD»»

Top of Barrel

• Use template to mark placement of holes on the top of the barrel
• Using a 1” spade bit pre-drill a small hole in each of the marked
areas
• Using a jigsaw, cut out the marked areas
• Remove lid from barrel
• When lower drain and upper drain steps have been completed,
lay fiberglass window screen over barrel opening, replace lid

Lower Drain

• Mark area at least 2” from bottom of barrel. Area may be
higher to allow for placement of bucket or watering can under faucet.
• Using 7/8” spade bit, drill hole
• Screw faucet into hole. Use utility knife to increase hole size
as needed.
• Remove faucet, wrap threads with Teflon tape, replace faucet
• From the inside of barrel, screw on the 3/4” adapter SxFPT
• On the outside of the barrel, caulk area where barrel and faucet
meet to reduce leakage

Upper Drain

• Mark area 3” from the top of the barrel. This can be on either the left or the right side of the
barrel, based on the location of the lower drain
• Using 1” spade bit, drill hole
• push 3/4” male hose adapter into hole (you may need to use the knife to make the hole a bit
larger or the rubber mallet to push the adapter into the hole)
• On the outside of the barrel, caulk area where adapter and barrel meet to reduce leakage
• Use this as an overflow outlet, use with a hose to connect to
another barrel, or place garden hose cap to close opening

Create a Stable Platform

• You can utilize concrete pavers or bricks to create a level
surface where the rain barrel will be located
• Place concrete blocks on the level surface either side-by-side
or in a triangular shape
• Place empty rain barrel on top of concrete blocks

Preparing Your Downspout

• Top cut: Using a hacksaw, cut the down-spout approximately 12” above the top of the rain
barrel (while on concrete blocks)
• Bottom cut: Using a hacksaw, cut the down-spout approximately 36” below the top cut
• The cut edges of the down spout will be sharp. You may wish to crimp the cut ends with
pliers (bending the cuts inward)
• Place the down-spout attachment onto the upper end of the down-spout
• The other end of the attachment can be placed on the lid of the barrel or can be attached to
the bottom down-spout as necessary.

Other Considerations

• Water from your rain barrel is not for human or pet
consumption.
• Your rain barrel must be emptied prior to winter to
prevent damage to the barrel.
• If you wish to add a second rain barrel, connect the
barrels by adding a piece of garden hose from the
upper drain of the first barrel to the upper drain of
the second barrel.
• Rain barrels can be painted to blend in with your
siding or landscaping.

PRINTER-FRIENDLY VERSION, p.1
PRINTER-FRIENDLY VERSION, p.2

 

If You Would Rather Purchase a Rain Barrel

A premade rain barrel can be purchased for $100 from Hoosier Heartland Resource Conservation & Development (RC&D) Council Inc. working with Boone, Brown, Hamilton, Hancock, Hendricks, Johnson, Marion, Monroe, Morgan and Shelby County Soil & Water Conservation Districts (SWCDs). DOWNLOAD ORDER FORM»»