Green Mojo DIY Project #3: Rainwater tower collector

Yeah, it’s rainy season once again! So what better way to “catch and store” those rainwater just flooding our streets?

That’s right! A rainwater collector and storage system!

Since I started urban farming, I’ve been thinking of using rainwater to water my plants. My hydroponics garden uses dechlorinated, piped in water that’s tad expensive. Watering my soil based organic plants with piped in water is expensive too! My fish aquarium is also using dechlorinated water and I just started experimenting aquaponics. What if I use rain water in my aquaponics garden? Lastly, rainwater just flood low lying areas at home. Collecting and storing rainwater for household use should be a simple, practical and cheaper way to mitigate floods. Cheaper urban farming too!

Of course I could have ask someone to make it for me, but that’s kind of expensive.  I’m also up for some DIY at home in my garden. So, I’m going to build a layered vertical wooden tower with plastic bucket as a container and a space for plants on the second level.

Materials:

• A large plastic pail/bucket/container – you can buy at a hardware/kitchen store.
• 2 x 2 inches good lumber, cut into necessary measured lengths
• Nails, saw, hammer, guides, hole saw, carpenter tools.
• Meshed net, fine one use for strainer.
• Piping or faucet depending on your needs

Procedure

1. Measure the width and height of your plastic container. Measure also the intended height of your tower and the level of the faucet. I suggest an elevation of one meter from ground level for easy maneuvering or if you will use pipes to channel water to other containers, a greater pressure for water to flow.
2. Build your container stand and tower, taking note of the height and diameter requirements. The easy rectangular design with braces on four sides is all good for me.
3. Fit your container on the tower stand  and mark the areas where you will place the faucet/pipes below, and the overflow drain on top.
4. Drill your faucet/pipe holes and overflow drain using hole sizes of pipes.
5. Create a square strainer lid with a fine, meshed net using a lumber frame or tacking the net to the container lid itself.
6. Assemble your rainwater collector system, then position it to where you’re rainwater spouts are draining.
7. Attach your pipes/faucet and overflow drain accordingly. Place a water sealant on the holes to prevent leaks.
8. Test your rain water collector for leaks.

That’s it. Now you have a simple rainwater collector!

A simple vertical wooden two layered rainwater collector. The lower portion should serve as plant holders too.

If you have any suggestions to improve this design, comment below.

Gardening Design Urban Farming

Last modified: June 13, 2015