Get a Rain Barrel

• Depending on what you want, you can buy a rain barrel from most garden centers for less than $100, with everything you need included. You can also build one from food-grade barrels and some plumbing supplies (see Resources). Most rain barrels will hold around 50 gallons of water.
  
  

Location

• Walk around your house and look at all the downspouts. Most people don't want to have a rain barrel in their front yard unless it can be hidden from view or worked into the landscaping. The ideal location is closest to the area you wish to water, or by your patio, if you have a lot of potted plants that need watering.
  
  

Installation

• Set your rain barrel on solid ground. If the ground is uneven or on a slope, place some cinder blocks as the foundation for the barrel. Connect a section of garden hose to the drain spigot on the barrel. Cut the downspout so that it just reaches the top of the barrel, and connect it to the barrel with the flexible hose adapter. Check the barrel during the next rainstorm to make sure the water is draining into the barrel and not spilling out.
  
  

Watering

• The rain barrel has a spigot close to the bottom of the barrel to which you can hook up your garden hose. Keep the spigot closed until you are ready to use the water. Use the collected rain water to water your plants or wash your car, anything other than drinking water. The pressure will only be fed by gravity so water will only flow if the end of the hose is lower than the top of the water in the barrel. Make a point to use the water regularly to keep the barrel ready for the next rainstorm.