Make Your Own Self Water Grow System

1. 4 inch PVC Pipe Grow System
Rain Barrel
Garden Hose
½ inch PVC Pipe
Float
Bucket
Grow Bags or 5 Gallon buckets
4” to ½” PVC Converter
4 inch PVC Pipe

2. Cost Basic 4”Six Pipe PVC Pipe Grow System
Cost Count Item Store
Unit
Price
Item #
Model # Picture Drawing
$2.64 6 LASCO 1/2" SCH40 Male Adapter Lowe's $0.44 23855 436005RMC
$3.30 6 LASCO 1/2" PVC Pressure Sch 40 Adapter Lowe's $0.55 23861 435005RMC
$0.25 1 LASCO 1/2" SCH40 Elbow Lowe's $0.25 23867 406005RMC
$1.35 5 LASCO 1/2" Schedule 40 Tee Fitting Lowe's $0.27 23873 401005RMC
$5.04 3 Charlotte Pipe 1/2" x 10' Schedule 40 PVC Plain End Pipe Lowe's $1.68 23966
PVC 04005
0600
$1.19 1 Hose Washer and O-Ring Combo Pack
Home
Depot
$1.19 573093 27937
$11.64 12 Charlotte Pipe 4" PVC DWV Cap Lowe's $0.97 23408 PVC 00131 1200
$73.50 6 VPC 4 in. x 10 ft. PVC Sewer Pipe
Home
Depot
$12.25 776518 6004
Total $98.91

3. Each 10 foot section cost $15.45
This does not include the miscellaneous “O” rings or ½” PVC
You may need for connecting the additional sections
Cost Count Item Store
Unit
Price
Item #
Model # Picture Drawing
$0.44 1 LASCO 1/2" SCH40 Male Adapter Lowe's $0.44 23855 436005RMC
$0.55 1 LASCO 1/2" PVC Pressure Sch 40 Adapter Lowe's $0.55 23861 435005RMC
$0.27 1 LASCO 1/2" Schedule 40 Tee Fitting Lowe's $0.27 23873 401005RMC
$1.94 2 Charlotte Pipe 4" PVC DWV Cap Lowe's $0.97 23408 PVC 00131 1200
$12.25 1 VPC 4 in. x 10 ft. PVC Sewer Pipe
Home
Depot
$12.25 776518 6004
Total $15.45

4. Float Bucket
Float Valve

5. Cost of Float Bucket minus Hose $23.70
Count Item Store
Unit
Price
Item #
Model # Picture Drawing
1 LASCO 1/2" SCH40 Male Adapter Lowe's $0.44 23855 436005RMC
2 LASCO 1/2" PVC Pressure Sch 40 Adapter Lowe's $0.55 23861 435005RMC
1 LASCO 1/2" PVC Pressure Sch 40 Elbow Lowe's $0.61 22691 410005RMC
1
Orbit 3/4"Dia. PVC Sch 40 Adapter
Lowe's $1.77 194638 53365
1 Charlotte Pipe 1/2" x 10' Schedule 40 PVC Plain End Pipe Lowe's $1.68 23966
PVC 04005
0600
1 Watts 1/2" x 3/8" FIP Brass Reducing Coupling Lowe's $4.72 35077 A-815
1 Dial 3/8 MPT and 1/8 FPT Float Valve Lowe's $9.67 339926 4180
1 AMERICAN VALVE 1/2" PVC Ball Valve Socket Lowe's $2.52 21484 P200S 1/2
1 Hose Washer and O-Ring Combo Pack
Home
Depot
$1.19 573093 27937
$23.70

6. Single Rain Barrel Setup
Orbit 3/4 Dia. PVC to
Hose Adapter for filling
from standard Garden
hose $1.77
1/4 Dia. Hole to release
air pleasure when filling
with water

7. Cost of Single Barrel Setup $44.49
Cost Count Item Store
Unit
Price
Item #
Model # Picture Drawing
$0.55 1 LASCO 1/2" PVC Pressure Sch 40 Adapter Lowe's $0.55 23861 435005RMC
$0.61 1 LASCO 1/2" PVC Pressure Sch 40 Elbow Lowe's $0.61 22691 410005RMC
$7.98 1 SWAN 5/8" x 15' Light-Duty Hose Lowe's $7.98 H4 LOMP58R015
$1.68 1 Charlotte Pipe 1/2" x 10' Schedule 40 PVC Plain End Pipe Lowe's $1.68 23966
PVC 04005
0600
$8.67 1
AMERICAN VALVE 1/2" Heavy Duty Brass Hose Bibb
MIP
Lowe's $8.67 V1 M71HD
$25.00 1 white 55 gallon used food grade rain barrel AZ Barrles $25.00
Total $44.49

8. How to make a 4” PVC to ½” Converter
For $3.15
LASCO 1/2" SCH40 Male
Adapter $0.44
LASCO 1/2" PVC Pressure
Sch 40 Adapter $0.55
Hose Washer and O-Ring
Combo Pack $1.19
Charlotte Pipe 4" PVC
DWV Cap $0.97

9. Cost to make single 4” to ½” converter
Cost Count Item Store
Unit
Price
Item #
Model # Picture Drawing
$0.44 1 LASCO 1/2" SCH40 Male Adapter Lowe's $0.44 23855 436005RMC
$0.55 1 LASCO 1/2" PVC Pressure Sch 40 Adapter Lowe's $0.55 23861 435005RMC
$1.19 1 Hose Washer and O-Ring Combo Pack
Home
Depot
$1.19 573093 27937
$0.97 1 Charlotte Pipe 4" PVC DWV Cap Lowe's $0.97 23408 PVC 00131 1200
Total $3.15

10. Volume of 1 foot tube = .6613 Gallons
Volume = r2
h
= 3.1416; r = 2.013; h = 12
3.1416 x 2.0132
x 12
3.1416 x 4.052169 x 12 = 152.7635295648 Cubic inches
1 cubic inch = 0.00432900433 US gallons
0.00432900433 x 152.7635295648 =
0.661313980952102215584 Gallons
Calculations are based on schedule 40 PVC pipe. Taking off about ½ inch off the top to allow for the hole to
hold the net cups you would get about 0.6 gallons per foot of pipe. Not counting any supply piping or
connecting pipe. Given a system with six 10 foot sections of pipe your capacity would be approximately 36
gallons of stored water.
Radius
2.013”
Length = 12 inches
Diameter
4.026”

11. Bucket Supports?
= =
=
5 Gallon
Bucket
Cut hole for 4” PVC to run through elongate into
oval shape so bottom of bucket will be supported
and not slip into the supporting ring.
Sliced 4.5”
sections

12. 7.5” - 2” x 6”
Middle supports maybe 3
to 5 for the 10 foot length
10 foot 2”x 4” Side
supports for Buckets or
grow bags to sit on