A 275-gallon
rain barrel,
basically.
Used IBC totes make large gravity-fed rainwater tanks. Here is how people usually set one up. Partner suppliers in our network may offer washed totes suited to this kind of project.
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A typical setup
- One used 275-gallon HDPE tote that held food-grade or non-hazardous contents, rinsed clean.
- A garden-hose adapter on the bottom valve.
- An overflow port near the top, piped away from the foundation.
- A screen over the fill opening to keep out debris and mosquitoes.
- Optional: a flexible downspout adapter and an opaque cover.
Why a tote instead of small barrels
One tote holds as much as several standard 55-gallon rain barrels, with a single fill point and a single overflow, so there is no need to link barrels together.
Plumbing notes
The tote’s bottom valve is your outlet. With an adapter, a standard garden hose threads on. Gravity alone gives low pressure, which suits soaker hoses and many drip systems; for sprinklers you would need a small pump. Raising the tote on a solid, level base improves flow. A full tote is heavy, so the base must be able to carry it.
Algae & UV
The white HDPE bottle lets some light through, and an uncovered tote in direct sun will grow algae. Shade it, cover it with an opaque wrap, or paint the outside.
Before you buy
Ask the supplier what the tote held before, and check any local rules on rainwater collection. Use collected rainwater for irrigation, not drinking, unless it is properly treated.