DIY Rainwater Collection System: What We Use and Why

Save Water, Cut Costs, and Boost Garden Resilience—One Barrel at a Time

By Lindsay Metternich

If you've ever stood at your kitchen sink during a downpour and thought, “All that water is just… going to waste,”—you’re not wrong.

Rain is free, abundant, and often overlooked as one of the simplest ways to support your home, garden, and emergency prep. And the best part? You don’t need a fancy system or a plumber’s license to collect it.

In this post, I’ll walk you through our family’s DIY rainwater collection setup—what we use, how we built it, and why it’s one of the smartest decisions we’ve made.

💧 Why Collect Rainwater?

• Saves money on your water bill

• Great for gardens and livestock—rainwater is naturally soft and chemical-free

• Eco-friendly—reduces runoff and soil erosion

• Gives peace of mind during droughts or disruptions

• Perfect backup for flushing toilets, washing tools, or watering plants if your main water supply goes out

🛠️ What We Use: Our Basic Setup

✅ Materials:

• Rain barrels (we use three 55-gallon food-grade barrels)

• Gutter downspout diverters

• Fine mesh screens (to keep out bugs and debris)

• Spigots + hose connectors

• Concrete blocks (to raise barrels for gravity flow)

• Overflow tubing (to redirect excess water)

• Optional: rain chain or first-flush diverter

🏗️ Our Layout:

• We placed two barrels at opposite corners of the house under the downspouts.

• One barrel collects water for the garden, the other two are used for livestock water and cleaning tools.

• The barrels are raised on blocks for better water pressure and to fit a bucket or watering can underneath.

• Each has a spigot, overflow tube, and fine mesh screen on top.

🪣 How We Built It (Step-by-Step)

1. Prep your barrelsStart with food-grade barrels (you can often find these secondhand from restaurants or suppliers). Wash them thoroughly and drill a hole near the bottom for your spigot.

2. Install the spigotUse a bulkhead fitting or rubber washer and sealant to prevent leaks. Tighten securely.

3. Cut a hole in the topThis is where your gutter diverter or downspout will enter. Cover with mesh to block debris and mosquitoes.

4. Raise the barrelSet your barrel on a sturdy, level base using concrete blocks. Elevation gives you better pressure and access.

5. Connect the downspoutUse a diverter kit or direct the downspout into the top opening. Optionally, add a first-flush diverter to keep roof debris out of the barrel.

6. Add overflowDrill a small hole near the top of the barrel and install an overflow tube to redirect excess water away from your foundation.

7. Test it out!The next time it rains, you’ll start collecting clean, usable water—like magic.

🌿 What We Use Collected Water For

• Watering our garden beds

• Filling chicken waterers

• Cleaning muddy boots and tools

• Flushing toilets (in a pinch)

• Emergency washing water

• Refilling outdoor dog bowls and troughs

• Mixing up compost tea or natural fertilizers

We don’t drink or cook with rainwater unless it's properly filtered and treated—but it's a lifesaver for almost everything else.

⚠️ A Few Safety Tips

• Always use food-grade barrels (no chemical residue!)

• Add a screen lid to prevent mosquito breeding

• Drain barrels before freezing temps (or use a freeze-proof setup)

• If you want potable water, invest in a gravity-fed filtration system (like Berkey or Sawyer)

• Check local regulations—some areas restrict or regulate rainwater collection

💡 Bonus: Tips to Maximize Your Harvest

• Clean your gutters regularly to keep water cleaner

• Add more barrels over time—they fill up faster than you'd expect

• Paint your barrels to match your house or protect them from UV light

• Label which barrels are for garden, animals, etc. to stay organized

• Consider adding a rain chain for a pretty, functional alternative to a downspout

🌦️ Final Thoughts

Our DIY rainwater system has paid for itself many times over—not just in money saved, but in peace of mind, garden success, and the satisfaction of doing more with what nature provides.

It’s low-maintenance, beginner-friendly, and one of the most empowering steps we’ve taken toward self-sufficiency.