8 Items for Setting Up Rainwater Harvesting Barrels

Watching a sudden summer cloudburst dump hundreds of gallons of free, unchlorinated water off your roof while garden beds dry up is a frustrating experience for any homestead grower. Setting up a dedicated rainwater harvesting system transforms every downpour into a reliable, drought-proofing reservoir for your crops and livestock. Gathering the right combination of barrels, diverters, and heavy-duty fittings ensures your setup runs cleanly and safely without unexpected floods or stagnant water issues.

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What to Consider Before Harvesting Rainwater

Before purchasing equipment, evaluate your roof surface area and local rainfall patterns to determine how much storage capacity you actually need. A single inch of rainfall on a 1,000-square-foot roof yields approximately 600 gallons of water. Matching your collection potential with your weekly garden irrigation demands prevents system overflows and ensures you store enough capacity to carry crops through dry spells.

The material of your roof plays a major role in water quality and safety for food crops. Standard asphalt shingle roofs leach small amounts of heavy metals and petroleum byproducts, making the water suitable for ornamental plants or trees, but questionable for direct foliar spraying on leafy greens. Metal, tile, or slate roofs offer the cleanest runoff for food gardens.

Finally, check local water rights and municipal ordinances before installing any collection vessels. While most states actively encourage rainwater harvesting, a few regions place strict limits on total storage capacity or require specific permits for off-grid capture systems. Designing a system that complies with local rules keeps your installation hassle-free.

Rain Barrel – RTS Companies 50-Gallon Barrel

A sturdy primary storage vessel is the foundation of any rainwater setup. The barrel must withstand constant hydraulic pressure, resist intense solar degradation, and keep water dark enough to prevent runaway algae growth. Cheap plastic drums often warp under full loads or degrade into brittle trash after a single season in direct sunlight.

The RTS Companies 50-Gallon Rain Barrel is built specifically for small-scale agricultural capture. Molded from heavy-duty UV-resistant polyethylene, this barrel features a wood-grain texture that blends into farm outbuildings while providing thick wall construction that will not bulge when full. Its flat-back design allows it to sit flush against exterior walls, keeping downspout connections tight and saving valuable walkway space around structures.

• Capacity: 50 Gallons
• Material: UV-inhibited heavy-duty polyethylene
• Design: Flat-back profile with molded-in top debris basin
• Integrations: Dual brass-spigot locations for gravity feed or hose attachments

This barrel is ideal for backyard gardeners and small-scale homesteaders who need reliable, modular storage next to chicken coops, greenhouses, or shed walls. It is less suited for growers seeking massive central storage over 500 gallons, where heavy plastic tote tanks (IBC totes) become more cost-effective.

Downspout Diverter – Oatey Mystic Diverter

Cutting a downspout directly into an open barrel top invites debris, pests, and catastrophic wall-washing overflows during torrential rain. A downspout diverter regulates the intake, channeling clean water straight into the collection line while allowing excess flow to continue down the normal gutter path once the barrel reaches maximum capacity.

The Oatey Mystic Rainwater Collection System installs inline with standard residential downspouts to automate fill control. Crafted from durable, UV-resistant 2×3-inch plastic, it features an internal catchment channel that pulls water from the inside walls of the downspout—where rainwater naturally flows—and redirects it outward to your collection hose.

• Compatibility: Standard 2-inch by 3-inch downspouts
• Material: High-impact, UV-stabilized PVC
• Function: Automatic bypass mechanism when collection barrel is full
• Installation: In-line cut with included connecting hose

This tool is perfect for home gardeners using standard residential gutters who want a low-maintenance setup that automatically prevents barrel overflow. It is not suitable for large agricultural outbuildings outfitted with oversized 3×4-inch or 4×5-inch commercial downspouts, which require industrial-sized diverters.

Debris Filter Mesh – Aquascape Tank Cover

Roof runoff carries pine needles, pollen, bird droppings, and leaves straight into your capture line. Without a tight, high-density mesh screen, this organic debris decomposes inside the vessel, turning clean rainwater into an anaerobic, foul-smelling sludge that clogs spigots and drip lines.

The Aquascape Tank Cover and Debris Netting acts as a high-flow barrier at the primary barrel inlet. Made from ultra-fine, tear-resistant synthetic mesh, it prevents even tiny organic particles and mosquitoes from penetrating the storage reservoir while letting heavy downpours pass through without backing up.

• Mesh Rating: Fine-weave mosquito and fine-particle barrier
• Attachment: Elasticized border for universal snug fitting
• Material: Rot-resistant synthetic fiber mesh

Installing this mesh saves hours of annual maintenance by stopping organic matter before it decays in the bottom of the vessel. It is an absolute necessity for anyone harvesting water beneath overhanging trees. Growers working in fully arid environments with clean metal roofs may find basic downspout screens sufficient, but for most small farms, this mesh is essential safety gear.

Brass Spigot Kit – Rain Pal Quarter Turn Bibb

Factory-installed plastic spigots on budget rain barrels are notorious failure points. They easily cross-thread, snap under the weight of heavy garden hoses, and leak around seals after exposure to freezing autumn morning temperatures. Replacing stock fittings with a heavy-duty brass spigot ensures smooth water release season after season.

The Rain Pal Quarter Turn Solid Brass Hose Bibb delivers full-flow performance designed for gravity-fed water delivery. Built from solid lead-free brass, it features a durable quarter-turn ball valve that glides smoothly even when internal water pressure is low, giving you instant control over water flow into buckets or hoses.

• Material: Solid lead-free heavy-duty brass
• Valve Type: Full-port quarter-turn ball valve
• Fitting: Includes reverse-threaded bulkhead fitting with thick rubber sealing gaskets
• Connection: Standard 3/4-inch male hose thread output

This kit is ideal for homesteaders upgrading basic barrels or building custom containment systems out of food-grade drums. The reverse-threaded bulkhead makes installation tight and leak-free from outside the barrel. It is not necessary if your rain barrel already includes pre-molded, heavy-duty brass fittings welded directly into the vessel body.

Overflow Kit – EarthMinded Barrel Overflow Hose

During sustained rainfall, a single barrel fills in less than ten minutes of downpour. If water cannot escape away from your building’s foundation, severe soil erosion and basement dampness can occur. An dedicated overflow hose redirects surplus volume away from structural footings or links multiple barrels into a connected network.

The EarthMinded Barrel Overflow Hose Kit provides high-volume discharge capacity for heavy storm cycles. Featuring a wide-diameter, flexible corrugated hose that extends up to four feet, it mounts low on the upper rim of the barrel to quickly evacuate rising water before it reaches the top seal.

• Hose Length: Extends from 18 inches to 4 feet
• Hose Diameter: 1.5-inch high-flow corrugated poly
• Included Hardware: Rubber hole grommet and hole saw bit for installation
• Expandability: Serves as a connector line to daisy-chain additional barrels

This kit is vital for growers situated in regions prone to sudden high-volume thunderheads or those planning to expand their storage footprint over time. It provides high flow rate safety that standard 3/4-inch hose outlets simply cannot match. It is redundant only if your system relies strictly on an automated, inline downspout diverter with zero secondary vessel ports.

Rain Barrel Stand – Good Ideas Universal Base

Gravity is the engine that drives unpowered rainwater delivery. A full rain barrel resting flat on the ground generates virtually zero pressure at the bottom spigot, making it impossible to slip a standard watering can underneath or run gravity-drip lines into nearby beds.

The Good Ideas Universal Rain Barrel Base lifts your water reservoir off the ground to establish functional pressure head and fill clearance. Rotationally molded from high-density polyethylene, this base stands up to severe weather, rot, and crushing weight, easily holding up heavy storage barrels without cracking or sinking into soft soil.

• Weight Capacity: Tested to support over 450 pounds
• Material: Rotomolded weather-resistant polyethylene
• Height Lift: Raises spigot clearance by 12 inches
• Footprint: Universal curved recess fits standard 50 to 60-gallon circular or flat-back barrels

This stand is a must-have for homesteaders relying on gravity feed to fill watering cans or supply soaking hoses without electrical pumps. It lifts the outlet high enough to clear standard 5-gallon buckets comfortably. It is unnecessary if you plan to mount your barrels on heavy-duty timber benches or built-in concrete retaining walls.

Submersible Pump – Wayne VIP50 Water Pump

Gravity feed works well for adjacent pots, but it fails when you need to move rainwater uphill or across long distances to distant crops. A compact submersible utility pump drops straight inside the rain barrel, providing domestic-level water pressure to drive garden sprinklers, spray nozzles, and long hose runs across the homestead.

The Wayne VIP50 1/2 HP Submersible Utility Pump converts stored rainwater into a high-pressure irrigation line. Encased in durable thermoplastic housing, this top-discharge pump fits into narrow barrel openings and handles small debris up to 3/8-inch without clogging, delivering up to 2,500 gallons per hour depending on lift height.

• Power: 1/2 Horsepower oil-free motor
• Flow Rate: Up to 2,500 GPH; pumps water up to 25 feet vertically
• Discharge: 1-1/4 inch male outlet with a included 3/4 inch garden hose adapter
• Solids Handling: Passes up to 3/8-inch spherical solids without jamming

This pump is essential for homesteaders running overhead sprayers or pushing water over long distances and elevated garden terraces. It eliminates the frustration of sluggish gravity flows. It is not necessary for small, localized container gardens right next to the downspout location where gravity pressure is sufficient.

Garden Hose – Gilmour Heavy Duty Flexogen Hose

Low-pressure gravity water systems require high-flow, low-friction hoses to function properly. Cheap hoses with thin walls kink easily, cutting off low-pressure gravity flow entirely, while rigid commercial hoses are too heavy to move easily around sensitive crop beds.

The Gilmour Heavy-Duty Flexogen Hose provides the optimal balance between high structural integrity and flexible movement. Built with a patented 8-ply layer design, this hose resists kinking under low pressure while maintaining high flow rates thanks to its smooth inner core and crush-proof solid brass couplings.

• Construction: 8-ply reinforced wall design
• Couplings: Crush-resistant machined brass fittings with spring guard strain relief
• Kink Resistance: High flexibility matrix prevents twisting under low pressure
• Sizing Options: 50, 75, or 100-foot lengths in standard 5/8-inch inner diameter

This hose is ideal for daily watering tasks around small orchards, livestock pens, and raised beds. Its internal reinforcement keeps water moving even when pulled around sharp bed corners. It is less suitable for users looking for ultra-lightweight collapsible fabric hoses, which require high municipal water pressure to expand and operate properly.

How to Safely Position and Anchor Your Barrel

Water is extremely heavy. A full 50-gallon rain barrel weighs roughly 415 pounds, making structural support and level positioning critical safety factors. Placing a barrel on uneven ground or loose sod will cause the base to settle unevenly, raising the risk of the vessel tipping over onto livestock, crops, or small children.

To build a safe foundation, dig out topsoil down to stable subsoil, lay down a level pad of compacted crushed gravel, and cap it with heavy concrete patio pavers. Verify that the platform is completely flat in all directions using a spirit level before setting the stand and barrel in place.

• Clear sod down to compacted subsoil
• Lay a minimum 2-inch layer of crushed road base gravel
• Level heavy concrete pavers directly on top of the gravel pad
• Secure the top rim of the barrel to building studs using heavy-duty nylon strapping

In high-wind areas or earthquake-prone zones, anchoring the top of the barrel directly to the structure wall is mandatory. Run heavy-duty stainless steel eye bolts into wall studs and wrap high-tensile nylon strapping or galvanized plumber’s tape around the upper third of the barrel body to prevent tipping when empty or partially full.

Essential Winterizing Tips for Rain Barrels

Water expands by roughly nine percent when freezing, producing immense outward force capable of splitting thick plastic walls, popping brass valves, and destroying diverters. Winterizing your system before the first hard freeze extends the lifespan of your equipment indefinitely.

Begin winterization by opening all bottom spigots and draining every drop of water from your collection vessels. Once empty, flush out settled sediment from the bottom of the drum using a high-pressure hose nozzle before storing the equipment for the season.

1. Fully drain all barrels before night temperatures drop below freezing.
2. Disconnect downspout diverters and install downspout cap covers or switch diverter gates to "bypass" mode.
3. Remove submersible pumps, dry them completely, and store them indoors above freezing temperatures.
4. Leave spigots open through winter to prevent trapped moisture from cracking internal ball valves.

If barrels must remain outdoors over winter, turn them completely upside down or store them inside a barn or garage. Storing barrels upright outdoors—even covered—allows melting snow and autumn rain to pool inside, leading to catastrophic ice cracking over winter.

Maintaining Clean Rainwater Throughout Summer

Warm summer temperatures and sunlight accelerate biological growth inside storage vessels. Keeping harvested water fresh and usable requires simple preventative controls that halt algae bloom cycles and prevent insect propagation.

Darkening the reservoir is your primary defense against algae. Sunlight penetrating clear or light-colored plastic triggers rapid plant growth that fouls water and clogs lines. Paint clear containers or shade them with dark canvas covers to block light entirely.

To prevent mosquito infestation without using synthetic toxins, treat stored water with Bacillus thuringiensis israelensis (BTI) dunks or granules. BTI is a naturally occurring soil bacterium that kills mosquito larvae within hours without harming crops, soil biology, domestic animals, or beneficial insects. Flush sediment from the bottom of barrels twice per season to maintain pristine water quality for your homestead crops.

Building a reliable rainwater harvesting system gives your homestead control over its irrigation needs while reducing reliance on municipal supplies or well pumps. By assembling durable, purpose-built components—from solid brass spigots to stable level platforms—you create a low-maintenance setup built to handle intense summer storms. Invest in heavy-duty gear today, keep your water filtered, and harvest free rainfall for years to come.