RARITYARare
Rain Barrel
A 1mm rainfall on a 50m² roof drops 50 litres into the barrel: the cheapest water you'll ever have.
A rain barrel is a container connected to a gutter downpipe that catches and stores the water running off your roof. It is one of the simplest pieces of self-reliance you can add to a home: every millimetre of rain on a 50m² roof drops about 50 litres into the barrel, water that is soft, lime-free, and costs nothing. In a dry summer it keeps a garden alive without touching the mains; in a supply cut it is water already on hand. No power, no pump, no permission needed.
Value Ratio
8.5/10
Versatility
8.0/10
Impact
8.5/10
Durability
8.5/10
Difficulty
3.5/10
Recommended Form200L food-grade plastic or galvanised steel
Best UsedConnected to a gutter downpipe
ImportanceHigh
DifficultyBeginner
GardenWashingFlushing
Not forDrinking
Free off your own roof
Soft, lime-free for plants
No power needed
Up in an afternoon
Yield1 L per mm/m²
Store200 L
CostFree
- Gravity Water FilterWater
- Raised Garden BedShelter & Build
Fit a first-flush diverter.
Mesh the inlet and keep a lid on.
Send the overflow to the drain.
Drain it before a hard frost.