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How to Build a Rainwater Catchment on an 8x40 Cargo Container

Oscar Martinez • Sep 01, 2017
Rainwater Catchment on an 8x40 Cargo Container

Are you looking for an innovative solution to collecting rainwater for a farm or garden?

I found this video online that documents how someone did just that. They were looking for a way to catch rainwater for their nursery and did so in a few easy steps.

The first step they took was welding metal brackets to the upper ridge of one side of the 8x40 cargo container. They were going to use these brackets to affix reclaimed wood to create a low pitch roof that angled into a rain gutter on the other side of the cargo container.

Metal brackets that were welded to the upper ride of the 8x40 cargo container

Once the metal brackets were in place they attached the reclaimed wood and ran two by four lumber across to create the slope that would feed into the gutter.

Attaching the reclaimed wood to the welded metal brackets
Attaching the 2x4's to the reclaimed wood and running 1x4's across

Once the frame of the low pitched angled roof was complete, he installed roofing material (most of it was recycled) that would filter the water into the gutter on the side of the cargo container. The water would feed from the gutter into downspouts that feed into IBC totes that will be stacked two high.

Roofing material being installed on the 8x40 cargo container

Once that was complete the roof of the cargo container was now set-up to filter the rainwater into the gutter that would then be collected for his nursery.

To view the video that was created by What's Ripening please click below. The video runs close to eight minutes. We love the idea and according to the creator of the video, the rainwater is better for plants as it has less chlorine than tap water. We hope you enjoy this blog!

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