- 1). Drill 12 small holes using a 1/8-inch drill bit around half (6 inches) of your PVC pipe. These holes will let water into the pipe as it runs through the filter in the barrel. Use a hole saw to cut a hole that is 1/8 inch larger in diameter than your PVC pipe in the bottom center of the rain barrel.
- 2). Lay the barrel on its side and insert the PVC pipe through the hole so that the solid side of the pipe is protruding out and the holes are inside the barrel.
- 3). Apply marine-grade caulk around the pipe on both the inside and the outside of the barrel. Slide a ring fitting over both sides of the pipe and push them to the barrel, firmly locking them into place and creating a watertight seal. Put a cap over both ends of the pipe and apply a hose fitting to the outside of the pipe, using epoxy to hold it in place.
- 4). Connect a hose to the fitting and a shutoff valve on the end of the hose. Position the barrel on a set of blocks or stones, so that the protruding pipe is at least 8 inches off the ground.
- 5). Pour 40 inches of sand into the bottom of the barrel and put 6 inches of gravel on top of that. Attach a garden hose to your hose fitting and fill it from the bottom up with clean water for the first time. Clean water is necessary because the filter does not function properly until a layer of algae and microorganisms has formed. The layer of algae and microorganisms rids the water of any harmful bacteria or microorganisms on which the sand filter would not have any effect.
- 6). Put the barrel out in the sunlight and give it time to form a layer of algae and microorganisms on the top. Depending on the weather conditions in your area, the layer can take from a few days to a few weeks to form. Once the layer of algae has formed, your filter is ready to be used.
- 7). Pour water into the top of the filter and extract water from the bottom as needed.
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