52 gallon KD Rain Barrel W/ diverter

The Collapsible Rain Barrel is lightweight and easy to use. It folds down for easy storage, and pops up when it's needed. It holds 52 gallons of water - that's just the right size for capturing runoff and preventing erosion.

This green rain barrel is made from 3 layers of UV treated laminated polyester. The UV treated plastic resists fading and breakdown - it can be left in full sunlight without changing color or turning brittle. It's flexible and damage resistant, with each layer providing an extra level of puncture protection.

The mini cistern weighs far less than other rain barrels of the same size - it's easy for one person to move around and set up. When cold weather approaches, draining and dumping out this barrel is easy to do by yourself. Knocking it down takes only a few minutes, and the barrel can also be used as a waterproof storage unit.

The flexible material reduces the risk of painful accidents. The sides are impact forgiving - if someone runs into this barrel, they may get soaked with water, but are less likely to bruise their arm. Yet, it has 5 rigid plastic poles that prevent accidental spills or tip-overs. The Knock Down Rain Barrel combines sturdiness with flexibility.

Technical Details

Weight: 5.5 lbs (empty) / ~440 lbs (full)

Capacity: 52 gallons / 200 Liters

Diameter: 24 inches / 0.6 meters

Height: 28 inches / 0.7 meters

The barrel has a separate inlet and outlet, plus an overflow valve. A ball valve on the outlet makes it easy control the flow rate - a half turn will adjust the water from a trickle to a solid spray. The outlet is threaded and sized for a standard garden hose.

The inlet has a built in screen to catch leaves, dirt, and insects. This keeps the bottom of the rain barrel from silting up, prevents clogging, and reduces the need for cleaning. The overflow valve has a removable cap.

At the top of the barrel there's a zipper that goes around the circumference. This zipper makes it easy to scoop out water or reach inside the barrel to clean out it out once a year or so.

What is rainwater good for?
Rain is not always a good replacement for filtered water - it may have harmful chemicals or bacteria, and is not recommended for drinking. But rainwater can be used around the house in many places where tap water is overkill.

Grass, vegetables, shrubs, and trees thrive when irrigated with rain water, because rain water doesn't have chlorine or other disinfectants in it. Rainwater is good for washing tools, soaking the foundation to prevent cracks, bathing pets, cleaning off the car, and cooling areas with spray fans.

Capturing rainwater prevents runoff and erosion around the house. Rain capture also helps the environment by reducing the energy used in producing tap water. Water filtration and water pumps use billions of watts of power every year - using rain water instead of tap water saves electricity and reduce air pollution.