I think is may be to long to fit, butI will try anyway. I just got this emailed to me for I'm doing a rain barrel for the City of Lafayettte Indiana. Over the years they have done Frogs,dogs & pigs. Here are the instructions they sent me. I will keep you posted on my project. Recommended steps to follow: 1. All rain barrels are shipped with a few layers of UV protection. Thoroughly clean the exterior surface of the barrel by wiping away excess dirt and grime with a clean rag soaked in a 1:1 mixture of vinegar and water. Some individuals claim that generic window surface cleaner works also. 2. Use a fine- to medium-grade sandpaper (220 grit or finer) to lightly âÂÂrough upâ the surface which will help the paint adhere to the plastic barrel. Be sure to use sand paper that does not leave scratches. 3. Wipe the barrel again with a dry cloth to get rid of any fine plastic shavings. Cover the spigot and overflow valve with masking tape and complete all of your painting in a well-ventilated area. 4. The barrel must be primed so that the paint adheres properly to the surface. Krylon Fusion spray paint or RustOleum Spray Paint for Plastic both make a spray primer that are great for a base coat (primer). Allow the primer to dry according to the directions on the container. Flat or semi-gloss acrylic paint, Krylon Fusion and RustOleam products can usually be found in local hardware and craft stores. 5. The barrel can be painted any way you like with ordinary flat or semi-gloss acrylic paint (spray or liquid). The design is completely up to you. Some people use stencils, a pattern, or freehand with a brush. You can also finger paint the barrel. a. For those of you only interested in painting the barrel a solid color, spray paint is perfect. You probably will be able to cover a rain barrel with one can of paint. These plastic barrels by nature need to be painted at a slower rate than most âÂÂstandardâ surfaces because of the surface tension characteristics of the polymer, as well as the waxy surface features. Allow the primer to dry according to the directions on the container. b. If you are using spray paint, but you need to paint small details, spray some paint into a small cup, making a liquid puddle, then use a brush to apply the paint. Allow all the paint to dry completely. 6. Apply at least two coats of flat or satin polyurethane spray to help protect the painted barrel. Krylon Triple Thick Crystal Glaze or other polyurethane sprays or brush-on products can be used as long as they are plasticappropriate. Be sure to allow the polyurethane to dry between coats.

I'm successfully using rain barrels in Memphis, TN area. I built my own based upon several plans I found online. The only time I loose any precious liquid sunshine is when I hit the over-flow hole at the top. Many pictures of how I built it are online at the link below For mosquito control I let loose a few Gambusia Affinis (AKA "The Mosquito Fish") into the barrels. I obtained for free from my County Vector (Mosquito) Control agent. The fish eat bugs, larva, and algae, and produce some nice mild fertilizer as a by-product. They handle the heat and reproduce quickly and will reach a maximum population density commensurate with the food available. Mosquito fish have been proven to be environmentally friendly and extremely effective controlling mosquitoes. Each fish eats up to 300 mosquito larvae per day. They require little or no feeding and their care is limited to protecting them from gardens sprays, chlorine and other chemicals. When rain is forecasted I link all the barrels under downspouts, out to a "remote" barrel on the far side of my yard and they all fill up to the same level, albeit slowly. once it's filled, I disconnect it all and use to provide a source for my drip-tape feeding my grape-vines in that section. I'm still learning by trial and error but this works for me. I'd be happy to discuss more details here or off-line. Here is a link that might be useful: SandSquid's Rainbarrel Project

Hi irontech. My short answer..I don't know. Copper sulfate is water soluable, so it would probably wash out of the barrel easily. A few things to consider are: Toxicological Effects: Acute toxicity: Copper sulfate is caustic and acute toxicity is largely due to this property [8]. There have been reports of human suicide resulting from the ingestion of gram quantities of this material [21]. The lowest dose of copper sulfate that has been toxic when ingested by humans is 11 mg/kg [22]. Ingestion of copper sulfate is often not toxic because vomiting is automatically triggered by its irritating effect on the gastrointestinal tract. Symptoms are severe, however, if copper sulfate is retained in the stomach, as in the unconscious victim. Some of the signs of poisoning which occurred after 1 to 12 g of copper sulfate was swallowed include a metallic taste in the mouth, burning pain in the chest and abdomen, intense nausea, repeated vomiting, diarrhea, headache, sweating, shock, discontinued urination leading to yellowing of the skin. Injury to the brain, liver, kidneys, and stomach and intestinal linings may also occur in copper sulfate poisoning [23]. Copper sulfate can be corrosive to the skin and eyes [8]. It is readily absorbed through the skin and can produce a burning pain, as well as the other symptoms of poisoning resulting from ingestion. Skin contact may result in itching or eczema [8]. It is a skin sensitizer and can cause allergic reactions in some individuals [24]. Eye contact with this material can cause conjunctivitis, inflammation of the eyelid lining, cornea tissue deterioration, and clouding of the cornea [23]. Examination of copper sulfate poisoned animals showed signs of acute toxicity in the spleen, liver, and kidneys [8]. Injury may also occur to the brain, liver, kidneys, and gastrointestinal tract in response to overexposure to this material [22]. The oral LD50 of copper is 472 mg/kg in rats [8]. Chronic toxicity: Vineyard sprayers experienced liver disease after 3 to 15 years of exposure to copper sulfate solution in Bordeaux mixture [8]. Long term effects are more likely in individuals with Wilson's disease, a condition which causes excessive absorption and storage of copper [25]. Chronic exposure to low levels of copper can lead to anemia [8]. The growth of rats was retarded when given dietary doses of 25 mg/kg/day of copper sulfate. Dietary doses of 200 mg/kg/day caused starvation and death [8]. Sheep given oral doses of 20 mg/kg/day showed blood cell and kidney damage [8]. They also showed an absence of appetite, anemia, and degenerative changes [22]. Reproductive effects: Copper sulfate has been shown to cause reproductive effects in test animals. Testicular atrophy increased in birds as they were fed larger amounts of copper sulfate. Sperm production was also interrupted to varying degrees [8]. Reproduction and fertility was affected in pregnant rats given this material on day 3 of pregnancy [23]. Teratogenic effects: There is very limited evidence about the teratogenic effects of copper sulfate. Heart disease occurred in the surviving offspring of pregnant hamsters given intravenous copper salts on day 8 of gestation [8]. These data suggest that copper sulfate is unlikely to be teratogenic in humans at expected exposure levels. Mutagenic effects: Copper sulfate may cause mutagenic effects at high doses. At 400 and 1000 ppm, copper sulfate caused mutations in two types of microorganisms [22]. Such effects are not expected in humans under normal conditions. Carcinogenic effects: Copper sulfate at 10 mg/kg/day caused endocrine tumors in chickens given the material parenterally, that is, outside of the gastrointestinal tract through an intravenous or intramuscular injection [22]. However, the relevance of these results to mammals, including humans, is not known. Organ toxicity: Long-term animal studies indicate that the testes and endocrine glands have been affected. Fate in humans and animals: Absorption of copper sulfate into the blood occurs primarily under the acidic conditions of the stomach. The mucous membrane lining of the intestines acts as a barrier to absorption of ingested copper [8]. After ingestion, more than 99% of copper is excreted in the feces. However, residual copper is an essential trace element that is strongly bioaccumulated [8]. It is stored primarily in the liver, brain, heart, kidney, and muscles. Ecological Effects: Effects on birds: Copper sulfate is practically nontoxic to birds. It poses less of a threat to birds than to other animals. The lowest lethal dose (LDLo) is 1000 mg/kg in pigeons and 600 mg/kg in ducks [8]. The oral LD50 for Bordeaux mixture in young mallards is 2000 mg/kg [27]. Effects on aquatic organisms: Copper sulfate is highly toxic to fish [28]. Even at recommended rates of application, this material may be poisonous to trout and other fish, especially in soft or acid waters. Its toxicity to fish generally decreases as water hardness increases. Fish eggs are more resistant than young fish fry to the toxic effects of copper sulfate [26]. Copper sulfate is toxic to aquatic invertebrates, such as crab, shrimp, and oysters. The 96-hour LC50 of copper sulfate to pond snails is 0.39 mg/L at 20 C. Higher concentrations of the material caused some behavioral changes, such as secretion of mucous, and discharge of eggs and embryos [8]. Effects on other organisms: Bees are endangered by Bordeaux mixture [1]. Copper sulfate may be poisonous to sheep and chickens at normal application rates. Most animal life in soil, including large earthworms, have been eliminated by the extensive use of copper containing fungicides in orchards [28]. Environmental Fate: Breakdown in soil and groundwater: Since copper is an element it will persist indefinitely. Copper is bound, or adsorbed, to organic materials, and to clay and mineral surfaces. The degree of adsorption to soils depends on the acidity or alkalinity of the soil [8]. Because copper sulfate is highly water soluble, it is considered one of the more mobile metals in soils. However, because of it binding capacity, its leaching potential is low in all but sandy soils [8]. When applied with irrigation water, copper sulfate does not accumulate in the surrounding soils. Some (60%) is deposited in the sediments at the bottom of the irrigation ditch, where it becomes adsorbed to clay, mineral, and organic particles. Copper compounds also settle out of solution [26]. Breakdown in water: As an element, copper can persist indefinitely. However, it will bind to water particulates and sediment. Breakdown in vegetation: One of the limiting factors in the use of copper compounds is their serious potential for phytotoxicity [24]. Copper sulfate can kill plants by disrupting photosynthesis. Blue-green algae in some copper sulfate treated Minnesota lakes became increasingly resistant to the algacide after 26 years of use [28]. Sorry for the long answer,,,Good luck with your decision..

"you are what you eat" Obnoxious (but true) slogans aside, those barrels could have contained ANYTHING. From Medline: "Windshield washer fluid is a brightly colored liquid made of methanol, a poisonous alcohol. Sometimes small amounts of other toxic alcohols such as ethylene glycol are added to the mixture...Some young children may mistake the fluid for juice, which can lead to accidental poisoning. Even small amounts can cause significant damage." The barrels will not be poisonous at all, as long as you believe that there is an exposure threshold you're not exceeding. However, we are exposed to toxic chemicals constantly day after day and I believe that it's not a good idea to deliberately add more crap to that (very thin but real) toxic assault. You gotta draw a line somewhere, and using a castoff from the chemical industry to saturate food plant roots is just asking for trouble.