Anyone collect rainwater.

looknlearn · May 5, 2011

Since we get city water, watering is expensive and the chlorinated water can't be that good for the plants so we are trying to find ways to collect rainwater. Here are some photos of what we have got so far. Anyone is welcome to post what they have as well.

We got one 1500 gallon tank hooked up and six 55 gallon tanks up.

duanekeys · May 6, 2011

Very nice set up. It's on my to do list, just not at the top yet.

General Lee · May 6, 2011

Thats quite a system you got there. I have one 55 gallon drum set up. I installed it last year to see if its something I wanted to fool with. Right now Its disconnected until I install a better overflow.

Western · May 6, 2011

I need to get a bigger water bin. I put a 50 gal trough under one of the gutter drains last week to see how mush I could get, filled it up with less than 1/2" rain. used it to water the flower beds.

hr3 · May 6, 2011

I collect rain water to try to keep my pond full.. When I had the pond dug it was in the area where my houses perimeter drain was so I ran it right into the pond,, All the down spouts from the roof go into it too.. It helps but I still can not keep it full,,,

deepNdirt · May 6, 2011

You should have enough water to supply the City

:thumbsup:
I've done this at our Barn,
One day while raining I notice how much water was coming from the roof and rutting out the ground below, I installed a gutter and downspout, the next time it rained I watch the water pour from the spout like a fire hydrant hose,

Then Had a brain storm

I now have a 275 gal container with the gutter dumping into it just as you have, Although I should need 3 or 4 of these containers as I watch this one fill in only 1 hour and start running over............ this water sure comes in handy,

Keeps me from having run 150 ft of hose from the house

I have a hose bib and 50 ft. hose connected to the container and it is elevated about 2 1/2 ft will provide enough force to water most the garden with a hose,:thumbsup:

dmccarty · May 6, 2011

I have thought of collecting rain water but then I figure out what it would cost to buy the containers.

If we ever raise chickens, we will collect the rain water off the hutch for the birds since it would be the easiest thing to do.

It bothers me to "waste" the rain water off the roof but we just do not use enough water to justify spend money on water storage.

Later,
Dan

looknlearn · May 6, 2011

Yeah, the tanks can be pricey. I think it was $1420 or so for the two 1550 gal. black water tanks, shipped. The other tank we are gonna elevating 12 feet and hope to fill that one from our garage and house. I think it wouldn't take too long to them to pay for themselves in a few years.

Uncle Doug · May 6, 2011

Nice setup, we have not had enough rain to fill a 5 gal bucket this year.

deepNdirt · May 6, 2011

Uncle Doug said:
Nice setup, we have not had enough rain to fill a 5 gal bucket this year.

Actually I wouldn't be sure if the OP is gathering rain or snow that has been melting

I heard they got hit Pretty good in Buffalo past Winter

ToadHill · May 7, 2011

That's a nice setup. I actually collect mine in a 1/2 acre pond using the runoff from one of my hayfields. I use a generator and an old sump pump to transfer the water to the garden.

DAY · May 7, 2011

On a historical note, ALL the water in Bermuda is rainwater, collected from rooftops. Clever systems let the first bit of rain wash the dust off the roof, then capture the rest in cisterns. It has been that way for a long time. Interesting what a society can do with limited resources, IF they have the will.:thumbsup:

zonta223 · May 7, 2011

Hi
Your setup sounds great.
We have about 100,000 lts of rainwater storage and 40,000 lts of bore water.
A normal house roof catchment will more than fill all these tanks when we get our average 20 inch rain fall.
Have been running the whole house on rain water for the past 18 months.....certainly makes a difference in the shower etc.

regards
Bob

Trkrd · May 7, 2011

In addition to rain barrels for watering, I ran a pipe from my iron filter in the pump house down to the garden. When it regenerates it blows out about 50 gallons of water onto the ground so I figured I'd put it to use. The garden loves it.

gniniar · May 7, 2011

We, (the wife and me) use rain water for every thing in the house, got no choice there is no other supply. Bore water is ok for sheep and for flushing in the bath room but that is about all.

There 4 x 6000 gallon tanks for runoff from the house roof and 2 x 5000 gallon tanks for run off from the shed roof.

Hot and cold water for the kitchen, shower and laundry is supplied by a pressure pump. Water heaters last for ever. Enough water for the summer if you don't take long showers and waste any, our winter rain is usually enough to fill the tanks. The rainfall in our area is around 18 to 20 inches a year.
Dave.

von-mil · May 7, 2011

I would love to be able to collect as much water as the OP's setup does. Right now, I use a single rain barrel which holds about 48 gallons and fills up pretty quickly - about 2/10 of an inch of rain will have it overflowing.

I use a small pump to transfer the water from the rain barrel to an assortment of storage barrels, trash cans, buckets etc. I don't like wasting the rain either so I'm often doing the transfer mid-rainstorm rather than waiting until the rain stops. At last count, I had a capacity of about 780 gallons.

Then it's on to the carry-all to deliver the water where it's needed.

tcreeley · May 7, 2011

The 3 story house I grew up in (western Mass) had a slate roof and a large cistern in the basement. All of the down spouts ran to it. It was built in the early 1900's. At some point, the cistern was disconnected and the water was channeled along the edge of the dirt road it was on. The plumbing was connected to the cistern, possibly the barn.

grsthegreat · May 7, 2011

nope... but anyone wanting to collect rainwater can feel free to come to my place and collect all they want. its been raining at least 4 days a week for ...lets see. about 2 months.

I sure wish summer would come along....before old man winter springs forth again an a few months

outinthetalgrass · May 8, 2011

I picked up theses 2 tanks on ebay for 25.00 each. they hold 275 gallons, One is used to collect the rain water, and then i pump it into the trailer. I can then use the tractor to pull it around the place for my wife to water her plants.

looknlearn · May 10, 2011

Wow, Some of you guys have got some big rain collecting systems. Got any pictures, zonta223, and gniniar.

We are trying to figure out a way to get the water from the big tanks to tanks in the hoophouse for gravity drip irrigation. We have access to some free solar panels so was thinking something like hooking one directly to a DC pump and letting it pump when the suns out. Anyone know if this will work? We want to avoid having to use batteries.

Could also build a small windmill that would pump when the winds is blowing.