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I found someone on Craigslist selling 55 gallon barrels for $15. I bought three and converted them to rain barrels. Screened on top, overflow pipe on top, hose spigot on the bottom. Gravity doesn’t work too well for me, mainly because my beds are higher than the barrel. So I use the spigot to fill a watering can.

Does any know of a good pump that uses standard hose fittings that I could hook up to it? I’ve bought really cheap and it doesn’t work... at all. But I don’t want to spend a fortune either.

The biggest problem I have is the algae growing in the water. But one mild rain will fill it up and them some.

My idea is to use a 12v bilge pump capable of 20-24psi powered by a used
battery from a junk yard. Charge the battery using a solar cell. You can connect a 9v water timer and a pressure switch to the line
that will also regulate watering times. It sounds complicated but
the cost is minimal and the unit will be independent of grid power.

You can get a washing machine pressure switch to cut off the pump power
until the timer releases the pressure.