rain water collection system

[Doc_Bob]

I thought I might ask. I want to build another pole barn. This time, I want to develop a system to collect the water from the roof and collect it in a cistern (or something like it) to useduring the dry spells to water my garden, lawn and etc. Anyone do this kind of thing and can you point me in the right direction?
Bob

 

[mikim]

just do an inet search for "rain water harvesting" ... you'll get more than you can read in a day.

 

[Tororider]

If you find good stuff in a search, post it here, its a good topic and I would be interested too.

 

[Doc_Bob]

just do an inet search for "rain water harvesting" ... you'll get more than you can read in a day.

I did and found some good stuff. I always ask here since real people populate TBN!
Bob

 

[Doc_Bob]

If you find good stuff in a search, post it here, its a good topic and I would be interested too.

I will!
Bob

 

[PA hayseed]

I have an old farm house that has a cistern. The cistern is about 1800 gal, and all the gutters ran to it. The top of the cistern is approximately 2 foot below ground level, with a cap to access it.

It was made with concrete and rock, with the top being solid concrete, and the sides being rock and a layer of concrete.

Roots are a problem, as the continously find a way in and grow like crazy in there.

It was changed over to a septic run out about 4 years ago, and the gutter system was changed. It had a hole knocked in it for a overflow system, but continues to hold "fluids" like the day it was made.

 

[Doc_Bob]

It was changed over to a septic run out about 4 years ago, and the gutter system was changed. It had a hole knocked in it for a overflow system, but continues to hold "fluids" like the day it was made.

What do you use the water for??? How do you pump it out?
Bob

 

[kjm3232]

I thought I might ask. I want to build another pole barn. This time, I want to develop a system to collect the water from the roof and collect it in a cistern (or something like it) to useduring the dry spells to water my garden, lawn and etc. Anyone do this kind of thing and can you point me in the right direction?
Bob

how much water are you trying to store? I have several 55 gal plastic barrels mounted under gutters that i had orginally got from a pickle factory. I bought some kitchen strainers cut out a hole on top of the barrell put the strainer in to catch leaves. I bought some faucets, tubing and cinder blocks from Home Depot. installed the faucet at the bottom of the barrel, put the dbarrel on the cinder blocks so my wife can put a watercan underneath and installed the hoses between the barrels for more water storage. this way she can water everything in the garden. For plants farther way, she connects the hose to the faucet and waters her plants that way

 

[Fossil Farm]

We've been collecting rainwater and using it for flowers and other outside chores for years. I hate using my well water for watering flowers. Just a waste. Don't like wasting my drinking water. I have a flow diverter from the downspout on the barn which goes to 2, 55 gallon drums. I use a small sump pump to pump into a tank (just 120 gallons at this point) that is 10 feet above the ground. It is on a sturdy frame of treated 4x4's. A two inch line comes out of the tank and then converts to 3/4 inch garden hose, with a valve. Gravity fed, and with a couple hundred feet of hose, we can water most anywhere with pretty decent pressure. With the roof area I have, a one-tenth inch rain fills one 55 gallon barrel. In the fall, I just switch the downspout back to the drain tile.

I put "Aquashade" or a similiar product in the tank so algae does not become a problem. Only takes a tablespoon. Right now it does sit outdoors. Got most of the parts (2 inch hose, 120 gallon tank) at TSC, a farm supply store. We have had it for, oh, 8 or 9 years now, and have not had to replace any parts yet. The 2 inch line will probably have to be replaced in a couple years. Seeing some UV breakdown starting.

 

[rural2]

Just to put things in perspective for those folks who are not already monitoring they're own water usage... I currently pump, on average, 2500 gallons a week for two people for culinary use only. Washing, drinking, cooking, bathing, toilets, occasional tractor washing etc., no irrigation. If I were to irrigate a small garden or lawn, say 50' X 100' I would guesstimate to transfer apx. two to three times that amount additionally per week. Thats about 7,500 + gallons a week. Not saying that a rain water storage system is a good thing or a bad thing, just pointing out that an average household uses a lot of water and what size storage system might be required. A 10,000 + gallon storage vessel w/associated equipment is going to be a pretty good chunk of $$$ and time to install and maintain for a week or so worth of water. For me anyway.