DIY Multiple Rain Barrels for cheap

I watched a ton of youtube videos on manifold rain barrels. I googled "multiple rain barrels" and every other term that I could think of to find a step by step guide to build a multiple rain barrel system. The reason that I wanted to connect rain barrels together is because I had one store bought rain barrel that was full and kept overflowing every time it rained. I read over and over again that rain water is the best water for your plants. It stands to reason that if I could collect the best water for my plants for free, then I should increase the capacity that I could store. This is my cost effective (cheap) rain barrel system.

I got the white barrels from the car wash for FREE. Believe it or not, some websites want $150 for white barrels that they have converted into rain barrels! Here is an example (link). I called and asked the car wash if they had any barrels. They said they had plenty, and that I could come pick them up. If you get free barrels from the car wash, try to get the screw on caps for the bungholes. You will see why below. Also, be sure that you wash out your white barrels thoroughly before you assemble the barrels. I am allowing my barrels to fill with rain water, then will probably use the water to wash the car. I will probably use the rain water to water the garden after the barrels are empty from the car wash chemicals. Put your barrels on cinder blocks or something that can support the weight. The rain barrels are gravity fed, so the barrels need to be higher than your garden or whatever you are watering.

You notice that one of my barrels is a "store bought" barrel. That was a gift when Baton Rouge had their compost bin & rain barrel sale (link to sale). They sell rain barrels that would normally run about $150 for $45. So, what you see is the store bought rain barrel collecting the rain from the roof. You see 2 tubes to catch the water from the roof on the rain barrel. The rest of the barrels are the free car wash barrels.


I used 3/4" pipe, 2 elbows, 2 t's and an adapter that screwed into the bungholes. White barrels have a bunghole that has a fine thread and a bunghole that has coarse thread. I out some teflon tape on the threaded 3/4" pipe and screwed it into the bunghole. I used some pipe glue to attach the pipe into the t. (You will want to silicone the bunghole that you are not putting a pipe in.) Here is a picture (to the right).


I capped off the hole on the store bought rain barrel where the spigot was. I also drilled a 3/4" hole on the top of each of the white barrels for vents. I used silicone to adhere and seal a garden hose screen in each of the holes so that mosquitoes cannot get into the rain barrel through the vent. You can get a little pack of garden hose screens relatively cheap and they are a good fit for your 3/4" vent.


I put a spigot on the rain barrels. I am hoping to be able to attach a soaker hose that will water my garden. I've read that it is better to water on the ground level than from overhead. By attaching a soaker hose to my rain water, I will be using a better method to water AND the best water for my plants.

So, all total I spent less than $10 in PVC pipe and fittings. I used a spigot that I had on hand. I also had the pipe glue on hand. Each of the rain barrels hold 55 gallons. So, when these barrels are full I will be able to store 220 gallons of rain water. Not too bad for $10. There you have it, how to make a manifold multiple rain barrel system for $10 or less. Oh, by the way, my niece Hayley supervised for no fee.