What are Rainwater Tanks? | PCH.com
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What are Rainwater Tanks?

March 2nd, 2012 Gardening

If you've been gardening for a while, you may have experienced drought-like conditions that can cause a lot of anxiety. Some municipalities impose water bans and limitations on how much you can use your hose when it hasn't rained for a while. But just because you can't use tap water doesn't mean you have to let your plants wilt. According to the BBC, a rainwater catcher can be the perfect solution. It provides a place for rain to fall, which can give you more than enough water in reserve to make it through dry periods. Here's a quick primer on how to build your own!

A number of gardening and hardware stores have rainwater catchers that you can buy right now. They vary in size, usually between about 100 and 700 liters. Rainwater catchers are essentially barrels, except the design is more streamlined so that they can fit into a wide variety of spaces. Once you've chosen your tank, place it directly underneath a pipe that can funnel water into it. You may also want to outfit the top of the barrel with an extra pipe that leads to a second barrel or a drain.

Home Improvement Pages notes that you should fill the tank with water once you've finished building it so that you can test whether it works. You want to make sure your pipes are nicely sealed to avoid letting excess water run out. Be liberal with your sealant! You'd be surprised how much pressure water can apply, especially in large amounts.

Once your tank is up and functioning, all you need to do is dip your watering can inside whenever it's time to feed the plants!