How to Make a Home Rainwater Collector
- 1). Unscrew the lid from a new 55 gallon plastic barrel. You can select any size of barrel for this task, but a large one is ideal for capturing large amounts of water. Put the lid in storage.
- 2). Measure the diameter of the opening of the barrel. A standard plastic, 55 gallon barrel typically has a mouth measuring 12 to 18 inches in diameter.
- 3). Cut a square of plastic mesh from the roll measuring approximately 18-by-18-inches, or at least 2 inches bigger on all sides than the diameter of the barrel mouth. Like the barrels, you can purchase this plastic mesh at hardware stores or gardening supply stores.
- 4). Press the mesh, centered, over the opening of the barrel. Allow the edges of the mesh to drape over the side of the barrel.
- 5). Wrap a 12-inch long, hooked bungee cord around the ridge of the opening of the barrel, securing the mesh in place. If you don't have a 12-inch long hooked bungee cord, use two 6-inch long cords and hook the ends together.