How many folks here collect rain water? I'm almost finished installing my third 330 gallon tote and my set up should be done. Just curious what methods and set up's others are using? My plan is for watering plants and trees exclusively.
Rain water collection
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4570Man
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I collect it for watering the garden. I bought a 3,000 gallon tank off a water truck for $250. When scrap was high it would have bought way more than $250. The whole tank is made out of 1/2 steel. That size tank was way overkill, but the price was right.
5030
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Our well water is loaded with minerals so I use eavestrough water for equipment and car washing. I have 2 IBC totes, one at each end of the gutters on each side of my shop. I used the Menards plastic downspout strainers (refitted with stainless mesh screening) to capture the leaves, twigs and other stuff before it enters the totes. I just keep the valves open with a reducer to garden hose size and a length of garden hose attached and use a tarp strap to hold the end about 8" lower than the top of the tote so it don't overflow.
I covered both tote plastic inners with 6 mil black plastic sheeting, I sprayed on 3M hi-tack spray adhesive and covered each tote. I add a bit of bleach every year as well but in 4 years, they have worked excellent as they stand.
In the winter, I just leave the main valves open all the time. never had issue one. Good investment (the totes were free). I never seem to run out of water. If I empty one tote I have the other...700 gallons is more than enough for my uses.
I covered both tote plastic inners with 6 mil black plastic sheeting, I sprayed on 3M hi-tack spray adhesive and covered each tote. I add a bit of bleach every year as well but in 4 years, they have worked excellent as they stand.
In the winter, I just leave the main valves open all the time. never had issue one. Good investment (the totes were free). I never seem to run out of water. If I empty one tote I have the other...700 gallons is more than enough for my uses.
CalG
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Can you believe it!? In some communities the collection of rain water is unlawful! Virginia or MD, IIRC. Something about "natural flow" or some other convolution of common sense. I guess they are concerned about flushing the pollutants off the streets.
Just for a fun project for my folks I dropped a 1000 gallon septic tank with an aerobic hatch top in next to the garden and piped in the rain down spouts. Then installed an aerobic pump set in the tank and ran it to a frost free hydrant set next to the tank facing the garden. Its switched with a weather proof switch box mounted on top of the aerobic hatch and as a bonus installed an aerobic system trouble light on the side of the switch box that indicates the system is on.
CalG
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Why all the mention/ concern about "aerobic"? is there an "anaerobic" alternate approach? Pardon my lack of familiarity with the hardware you are describing. I'm used to open stock tanks for rain water storage, complete with frogs ;-)
Its just the type of tank system that I used the parts from. FWIW there is anaerobic systems, but again, its just a type of system that I borrowed parts from to make a rainwater collection system.
bamboozled
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I built something similar to this. Then I realized I had twice my yearly municipal water bill in attempting to collect rainwater and ended up dismantling it and giving it to my brother.
The 'water arm' is still installed but its in bypass until I get around to removing it.
Contain Rain - Methods - Contain Rain "Water-Arm"
The 'water arm' is still installed but its in bypass until I get around to removing it.
Contain Rain - Methods - Contain Rain "Water-Arm"
Wagtail
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Rain water tanks are practically standard here in Aus. It's all I use for myself, 30,000ltr tank plumbed to the house, and I've a separate 5,000ltr tank, to water the horses, that collects from the 5-bay shed.
There's at least 4 different poly-tank companies in Tassie alone.
There's at least 4 different poly-tank companies in Tassie alone.