Jacki Cammidge is a Certified Horticulturist specializing in frugal, low-input gardening and propagation, with lifelong hands-on experience and years as a wholesale nursery head propagator.

Rainwater Harvesting on a Budget

Salvaging Water on the Cheap

Rain falls from the sky, free of charge, so why not save even more of your precious budget and harvest it as cheaply as possible.

Out of all the things you can do without, water isn't one of them.

If you're in a drought area (and who isn't, for some part of the year?) then this is a priority.

So how do you start? There are many ways to find the items you need for this crucial part of the garden set up.   

But first of all, before you start worrying about the how, think about where you will be able to harvest the most rainfall.

This would be off the biggest roof you have, maybe a garage, or your house. Existing downspouts may need to be removed.

What will capture the rain water? Big totes with a metal cage around it will be the biggest option, while blue 55 gallon drums are the next level. You might already have one or two that need a use, or you can buy them here new at the links above, or find them online on marketplaces.

Both of these are very low cost, and can be found on Facebook Marketplace and other online sources. Keep an eye on Kijiji if it exists near you, same with Craigslist. Not every online marketplace is in every area, so do some research.

I've also seen various things on Castanet, which might be limited in scope and again, not everywhere. You don't want to be driving hundreds of kilometers to pick up a good deal that might be a few bucks.

Taps to screw into the barrel are pretty economical. You can buy these in groups of two, four or more to be even more so.

The ones in the link here are in a package of two, and are probably the top end of quality and price. I'm sure you could find them cheaper if you search a bit.

The next thing you'll need is some kind of stand. Imagine how heavy the water will be - approximately 10 lbs a gallon, or 5 kilograms per 4 liters. That needs a substantial and well built place up off the ground, and it's absolutely crucial to be perfectly level.

With hubby being a carpenter by trade we make them out of wood 2x4's, cut into 2' lengths. When screwed together, they make a sturdy stand for the full barrels to sit on. 

To be able to access the water, now you will need a couple of taps, or maybe a solar powered pump. These are relatively cheap, in the order of a few bucks for the taps, maybe a bit more for the pump.

Have a look at the link just above for a whole page of options.

Drill two holes in the barrel, one close as possible to the bottom, the other about 10 cm (four inches) from the top.

You can fill a watering can or a dog dish from the lower tap, and leave the other top one with a hose on it to drain off the excess if it rains really hard.

They can be offset, one on the front, the other to the side, to make it easier to have hoses going in various directions.

Next, the dreaded mosquito. You'll need to use some kind of small holed screen to keep them out. We cut a piece of plywood into a circle with a jigsaw, and cut another circle out of the middle of it. Then the hole in the middle has screen stapled over it. 

Or, just put in a mosquito dunk, or aerate it to stop the larvae from forming.

Once you've got all that in order, pray for rain. It's best to get your tanks or barrels all set up before the spring rains start, so you don't go into the season without any water. If your taps are in the right place on the barrel you can drain off the overflow and still have a good supply. 

In the fall, dump out the remaining water you don't need, flush out the barrels and lay them on their sides for the winter. 

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