This is just an idea and may have only been possible thru special arrangements that I wasn't aware of.

Dialysis clinics use solution concentrates that come in 55 gallon plastic barrels. These are salts and acids, if memory serves me. They will require a thorough rinsing.

I got all I cared to have years ago but it may have been because I "knew people." You could check with these folks and ask how they recycle their barrels.

Steve
gardening on both sides of the WA/ID border

thanks, I will check that out.
I checked the barrel this morning and it is already almost full, I was surprised! The hose going into it is long enough that I could move it over into a spare garbage can, am now filling it up. This may solve some of my problems, wish I would have set it up sooner. I have been thinking about it for years and just never got around to it.

We must be neighbors! Nice to meet you. J

Prior to finding this forum I mail ordered a rain barrel that has a screen cover and a faucet. It works well, but will be looking for local sources, possibly freecycle.

Here is a link that might be useful: Crafting Life in Zone 6

We bought cheap plastic trash cans at the Dollar General and have one set up at each corner of the house. The gutters were fitted with flexible downspouts so we could actully have three 55 gallon barrels around each corner. We did it because we wanted to be able to use the water that normally just runs off after a rain.

We have a well so our water costs us nothing, but it just seemed wiser to conserve anything we have. We also found a source for some 300 gallon plastic containers to use for longer-term storage of rainwater. When we have a long, dry stretch of weather, we water flowers, veggies and lawn areas with stored water.

In the past 8 years our well has never gone dry, but we got sand in the pipes a couple times, meaning that the water level was very low. Of course this water we store would not be suitable for drinking or cooking without extensively treating it first, but if it ever came to that we'd have it.

Cheryl

I haven't had good luck so far with mine. they leak, couldn't seem to get the faucet on them correctly, I am no plummer. I wish I could resolve this because when it rains I can easily fill them but I know later in the summer there will be months without rain.

how long can you store that water before it starts to stink or gets green stuff growing?

I got mine at the local car wash.

I set one up this spring. I also got mine at a carwash. It was easy to rinse out and works great. I have about 6 raised beds and a few flower beds and have not used our city water once yet. I used flexible downspouts for entering and exiting the barrel and put a brass faucet on it. I really like it. The mesquito dunks keep my water clean and nice looking.

Andrea

Be careful if you live in CO, the rain on your property doesn't belong to you collecting it is a form of theft. "Since all water arriving in Colorado has been allocated to "senior water right holders" since the 1850s, rainwater prevented from running downstream may not be available to its rightful owner."

I have read that food/beverage manufacturers (Pepsi, Heinz, etc.) is a source for barrels. Not sure if they are free but worth looking into.

I bought a 65 gallon drum through my town and it has the screen on top with a spout with a small section of hose on the spout. It was filled to the top in just one rainy night! I set up a Rubbermaid container with a hinged lid right next to it and drain the rain barrel water into that to make room for more rain in the barrel. The container works well too - I dunk my watering can in it to hand water particularly when I want to do feed my garden with liquid fertilizer.

My silly little "system" works well for me.

car washes
power washing companies
soda bottling plants
car dealerships

Just a few I can think of off the top of my head.

I just set up a rain barrel for the first time this year. I was told to keep a cover on it to prevent algae and I also am using mosquito dunks. My questing has to do with the overflow. I have an overflow hose but the pressure is such that only the first 3 feet of the overflow hose sees any water. I know there is a lot of water that can overflow because I watched it first hand before I had the overflow hose set up. Any suggestions?