washer over the threaded portion of the fitting
emerging through the spigot hole. Then install
the small fitting nut onto the threads and turn
it counterclockwise until it’s hand tight. Note
that this fitting is turned counterclockwise
instead of the usual clockwise. Remove the
cord and use a wrench to tighten the nut a
quarter of a turn.
9. Wrap the threads of the spigot with three
layers of plumbing tape, supplied with the
spigot (Figure
F
). Install the spigot onto the
fitting nut and hand-tighten it by rotating it
clockwise. If the spigot output is pointed within
a quarter of a turn from straight down, tighten
it one-quarter turn with a wrench. Otherwise
loosen and readjust the spigot until it is
pointing within a quarter turn from straight
down before tightening it (Figure
G
).
FILLING THE BARREL WITH
DRINKING WATER
Runoff rainwater from your roof might be fine for
watering a garden, but it should not be used for
drinking water. Instead, fill the barrel by pouring
water from a pitcher filled with municipal water
that’s been treated with chlorine. A much faster
way is to use a recreational vehicle hose designed
for use with drinkable water. Connect the hose to
a nearby tap, and the barrel will be full in a few
minutes. If you plan to use the water only during
an emergency, it might be best to fill the barrel
completely to keep out any algae that might be
suspended in the air. While the rated capacity of
the barrel is 55gal, mine holds nearly 60gal.
After the barrel is full, replace and tighten
the bung cap. Dry the hose and attach protection
covers to both ends to keep it safe for future use.
Coil the hose and store it on top of the barrel.
If you want to store drinking water from a well
or other non-municipal source, it’s necessary to
sterilize it. The Red Cross and FEMA recommend
“adding two drops of non-scented liquid
household chlorine bleach to each gallon of
water” (makezine.com/go/red-cross-water). This
resource also has good suggestions about water
storage containers and emergency food storage.
Much more information is available online.
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