Rain water collection and usage

[roadrunner255]

Hello All,

Is anyone using rainwater collection on their building and what uses?

I am interested in using the water for washing vehicles since the well water here in Central Texas is so hard.

Cheers!

 

[ducksface]

Lots and lots of threads here on rainwater and on ro units and Ryan put up a link and opinion on a portable water softener.

Go to griots.com to see many many options.

 

[Colin Len]

Subscribing. I had a single barrel that was getting water from a downspout and we used it to water the lawn. We've had a terrible drought here in CA so saving all we can is helpful. Eventually I'd like to get a more serious setup with multiple barrels and a pump but I'll need to wait until I have some $$ for a custom gutter setup.

 

[Maddog10]

Drawing up some plans right now to collect rainwater into a 55 gallon drum that will be used for a fish/game cleaning table on the back of my shop. Just deciding now whether to gravity feed or pump the water.

 

[kylerohde]

I'll just advise to make sure your setup is equipped to handle overflow well. When we bought our house, it had a rain barrel in the front at the downspout that gets a TON of water and, even with the overflow tube hooked up, it didn't drain fast enough with hard rains and we ended up having a ton of water overflowing back onto the edge of the foundation, making our sump pump run a lot. Solved that issue by having the downspouts buried and drain out into the yard and getting rid of the rain barrel, which wasn't worth future foundation problems.

 

[rburke65]

Well here's wishing you guys lots of rainy weather.

 

[roadrunner255]

Thanks, I have a deionizer and though it would work ok with the softened water.

After a few uses the media was used up.

After speaking with the manufacture (CRSpotless) softened water is worse than unsoftened water when it comes to the media especially in my case where the water is 125 grains hard.

For those of you that have rain collection, do you have to worry about the rain water getting contaminated when it sits in the hot weather?

Does gravity feed work for rinsing your vehicles or would you need a pump?

Thanks

 

[rob_460]

If you can find them, IBC totes can make a fantastic rain water storage option. I managed to pick up a pair of them for $40 from a beverage manufacturer. The ones used for food products usually sell at a premium compared to the ones used to store chemicals such as soaps and cleaners for car washes since they are more in demand for vegetable gardeners etc. If you are only washing cars, obviously a car wash chemical tote would be just fine. You could plumb a few together to give your storage system some decent capacity.

As mentioned, plan to direct overflow to somewhere where it would be useful to irrigate trees or something, or at least to where it will do no harm. Approximately 1100 litres capacity, and they fill up amazingly FAST during a rain.

Keeping them covered up with landscape cloth and a box made to match the fence ensures that algae is controlled and that they blend into the yard. For car washing, you could probably use one of the pool chemical pucks to control algae too.

I found that an electric pump is required in my setup to get enough pressure even for watering plants.

 

[Zeke]

Gray water is a better concept. Pretty much a reliable, steady supply.

 

[engineer2]

I set up my downspout with a $15 garbage can instead of a $50 rain barrel. It works fine and is going on it's third year.

 

[lilredex]

Anyone devised a good set up that will dump the first 10 minutes of rainwater, and then let your barrels fill up?

 

[engineer2]

Anyone devised a good set up that will dump the first 10 minutes of rainwater, and then let your barrels fill up?

Most of the kits will fill the barrel up first and then dump the rest. Mine is a RainReserve Diverter Kit and it sends most but not 100% to the barrel. Some always comes out the downspout.

 

[Zeke]

Anyone devised a good set up that will dump the first 10 minutes of rainwater, and then let your barrels fill up?

That seems too arbitrary. You could have 10 min of drizzle or a downpour. Better to figure a volume to slough off the first water. I'm thinking an elevated barrel that will tip upon being full and stay tipped with the water now diverted to your storage.

Don't ask me for particulars as I don't really know what I'm talking about.

 

[barks]

www.twdb.Texas.gov/innovativewater/rainwater

 

[Jess]

For clean water after the first bit of rain, google First Flush Divertor. There are options to determine how much is diverted before the clean(er) water goes to your storage. I have 3 2400 gal tanks that collect rainwater for use during the dry season and fire protection. Lots of manufacturers make divertors and the Australians have the best stuff, all available in North America. In some locations, its illegal to collect rainwater. Something to do with Water Rights. In my area, it is encouraged to reduce use of treated water for gardens etc.
A bit of research and you will be well informed about how and what you would need.

 

[theoldwizard1]

Craziest use for rainwater.

My BIL has some acreage that they use for camping and 4 wheeling. They got rid of the big travel trailer and built a couple of small "temporary" buildings (temporary in his county means they are on built on PT 6x6s and can be dragged over the ground); kitchen/dining, bedroom, outhouse. But really, who wants an out house ?

Well, his outhouse has a flush toilet ! Yep, rain water. Waste goes into an in ground tank/vault. Got the permit and everything. Funny thing is, that tank must leak. He has never had it pumped out !

Another BIL in a different state has a similar set up. The cabin was built in the 20s/30s before permitting existed in that area. 2 "tanks". One black water, one gray water.

 

[theoldwizard1]

I have 3 2400 gal tanks that collect rainwater for use during the dry season and fire protection.

Most people don't realize just how much STORAGE they need !

 

[ducksface]

12 inches of rain is 8.1(ish)gallons of water per square foot of catchment(roof).
As an inch of rain is 3/4 gallons(check my math) per square ft. Your fifty gallon drum barely catches the rain that falls into the gutters themselves.

 

[Sawdustmaker]

I have 2, 75 gallon rain barrels. When we were getting some good rain here in So Cal this past season they filled up fast. I don't have a gutter system, so I placed them where the flow off the patio roof is greatest. For anyone in So Cal, check out bewaterwise,com. My two rain barrels cost $150 and I got a $150 rebate from be waterwise

 

[Schurkey]

I thought it was illegal to "steal" rainwater in certain jurisdictions (California, maybe others.)

My impression is that unless you allow it to soak into the ground or run naturally into streams/gullies/creeks/rivers, it's theft or some ecological crime.

Am I wrong?

 

[ADSR]

For clean water after the first bit of rain, google First Flush Divertor. There are options to determine how much is diverted before the clean(er) water goes to your storage. I have 3 2400 gal tanks that collect rainwater for use during the dry season and fire protection. Lots of manufacturers make divertors and the Australians have the best stuff, all available in North America. In some locations, its illegal to collect rainwater. Something to do with Water Rights. In my area, it is encouraged to reduce use of treated water for gardens etc.
A bit of research and you will be well informed about how and what you would need.

3 2400 gal tanks? wow!! that's a lot of water! Not sure where on the island you are, but those tanks would never fly in Sidney

 

[AJ.]

We have a couple of 5000 gallon tanks and a little 2000 gallon tank. We use rainwater for everything when it's available, we run the whole house on it. That's pretty much the norm around here.

Cheers Andrew

 

[cvairwerks]

One of the best trash catchers I've seen uses a wye installed single leg up. The one leg extends down about 2 feet and is terminated with a removable cap. The cap has a #40 or so hole in it to allow the leg to drip empty. When the rain falls, it runs everything from the gutters down that leg until it floods over into the other leg. The second leg is fed to the collection system. All the junk that gets into the gutter goes into the capped leg and clear water goes the other way.

 

[Reg1952]

I am using Rain Brothers flexi fit down spout diverters. Have used for years now and love them.

 

[CJ7VFR]

I thought it was illegal to "steal" rainwater in certain jurisdictions (California, maybe others.)

My impression is that unless you allow it to soak into the ground or run naturally into streams/gullies/creeks/rivers, it's theft or some ecological crime.

Am I wrong?

No, you are not wrong.

I have friends that lived in PA, and they always had rain barrels to catch water, which they used to water their garden. They did this for years to save money and to save on their water usage.

Two years ago they moved to Colorado, and my friends wife wanted rain barrels to catch the rain so she could use it to water her new garden. They went to buy the rain barrels and were told that they had to pay a "fee" every year if they bought the rain barrels and trapped the water coming off of their roof.

Apparently, at least the town they live in there in Colorado, the rain water belongs to the town, if you can believe that, and if you don't let it soak into the ground, and you try to catch it to use somewhere else, you have to pay to do that. And the fee was actually pretty high, making any water they would have tried to catch cost more than watering their garden with a hose.

Jim

 

[LB-1911]

I thought it was illegal to "steal" rainwater in certain jurisdictions (California, maybe others.)

My impression is that unless you allow it to soak into the ground or run naturally into streams/gullies/creeks/rivers, it's theft or some ecological crime.

Am I wrong?

Varies by location -
11/9/2016
STATE RAINWATER HARVESTING LAWS AND LEGISLATION
http://www.ncsl.org/research/environment-and-natural-resources/rainwater-harvesting.aspx

 

[ddawg16]

Most people don't realize just how much STORAGE they need !

No kidding.....

I have 2, 75 gallon rain barrels. When we were getting some good rain here in So Cal this past season they filled up fast. I don't have a gutter system, so I placed them where the flow off the patio roof is greatest. For anyone in So Cal, check out bewaterwise,com. My two rain barrels cost $150 and I got a $150 rebate from be waterwise

I have 3 60 gal barrels....2 were free. Still working out the kinks....but, we use the to water the flowers. I'm working on soaker hoses hooked up to the barrel....turn on the valve on, come back in 30 min.

No, you are not wrong.

I have friends that lived in PA, and they always had rain barrels to catch water, which they used to water their garden. They did this for years to save money and to save on their water usage.

Two years ago they moved to Colorado, and my friends wife wanted rain barrels to catch the rain so she could use it to water her new garden. They went to buy the rain barrels and were told that they had to pay a "fee" every year if they bought the rain barrels and trapped the water coming off of their roof.

Apparently, at least the town they live in there in Colorado, the rain water belongs to the town, if you can believe that, and if you don't let it soak into the ground, and you try to catch it to use somewhere else, you have to pay to do that. And the fee was actually pretty high, making any water they would have tried to catch cost more than watering their garden with a hose.

Jim

I California you can have all the rain barrels you want....and get a rebate for their purchase. We can also use gray water.

I would be willing to bet the above CO law wouldn't hold up to a lawsuit...

 

[Kaizen]

years ago I had access to foodgrade 55 gal barrels. I put in a spigot and linked 6 of them together to feed a shallow well pump and pressure tank. I hooked it to my sprinkler system. I thought I was a genius. ran it on 3 heads and not only was it not enough pressure but I blew through the 300 gallons in like 20 minutes.
you'd think gravity would force water better but I found it does not. highly recommend a pump of some kind for any use. also as said before you really need huge plastic tanks unless you're just watering a garden bed near the barrel. great idea. hard and not cheap to get it running perfect.

 

[AR-Trvlr]

you'd think gravity would force water better but I found it does not.

No, not that much. Only .43 PSI per foot (and minus friction loss) of elevation difference between the outfall (end of hose) and the highest point of stored water.

 

[Sawdustmaker]

I have 3 60 gal barrels....2 were free. Still working out the kinks....but, we use the to water the flowers. I'm working on soaker hoses hooked up to the barrel....turn on the valve on, come back in 30 min.



Forgot to mention that I picked up a fountain pump to pump out my rain barrels. Takes about 20 min each barrel, gives a bit of pressure throught the hose, is a bit of a hassle to set up and take down, but my bride is happy with the whole set up, so I'm happy too.

 

[Innov8tive1]

I have one 240 (can't remember exactly) gallon barrel that is tall and somewhat slender, about 8' high. It sits in one corner of my garage behind the man door. Doesn't really get in the way there. I set it up last summer mainly for washing vehicles as we're on a well with softened water which leaves incredible water spots. I connected it to an old well pump and pressure tank I was given. Then it runs through a couple of 2"x10" filters for getting any leftover crud out of the water. Beside that, I set up an old porcelain wash fountain, like you would have seen in schools etc. years ago. Having running water in the shop, even though it's not heated has been an incredible improvement! Can't believe I didn't do it before. And it does a really nice job on washing vehicles as well. I filled it last fall and I used it over the winter, keeping the garage heated and I think I'm down to about 140gal but I didn't wash any vehicles in that time, don't have a floor drain in the shop.

The one pic is obviously the tank, before install. The other pic is an overflow preventing valve I dreamed up..........It did not work as intended. It has a foam ball inside which floats up and blocks off the inlet from the eave trough. The overflow goes into a rectangular tote (one of the industrial ones referenced earlier in this post) which I use for extra storage and to top up the inside tank for winter.

 

[L5wolvesf]

I would be willing to bet the above CO law wouldn't hold up to a lawsuit...

I lived in CO for a while in the 1990s and the place I worked at was involved in a suit over water rights. I came on after they had lost the original case and they were going to appeal. I researched CO water law for months. The CO common law came about from a lawsuit filed by the state of Kansas over the rights to all waters that ended up in the rivers (including rainwater). CO lost that suit and the water situation there is essentially based on that decision. It effected what we did with water that overflowed from a spring water pool.

 

[Kaizen]

No, not that much. Only .43 PSI per foot (and minus friction loss) of elevation difference between the outfall (end of hose) and the highest point of stored water.

I always thought the weight of the water was a factor as well? So 500 gallons vs 50 is more pounds so increase pressure?


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[AR-Trvlr]

I always thought the weight of the water was a factor as well? So 500 gallons vs 50 is more pounds so increase pressure?
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I don't believe so. You can have 1,000,000 gallons in a municipal tank, and the pressure is still based on the difference between the water elevation and the outfall location. Smaller masses of water will drop in pressure faster as the water runs out, but no change in pressure.

 

[Strouty]

I think it is funny, some places tax you on collecting the rain water, around here they tax you on impervious surfaces because it creates more stormwater for them to deal with.

 

[Greeny]

A member here, Morio, is a TX resident who uses water capture from his home/garage. His system also incorporates a first flush feature that allows the crud from the roof to clear before diverting the water to his tanks.

http://www.garagejournal.com/forum/showthread.php?t=257468&highlight=things

 

[ADSR]

I thought it was illegal to "steal" rainwater in certain jurisdictions (California, maybe others.)

My impression is that unless you allow it to soak into the ground or run naturally into streams/gullies/creeks/rivers, it's theft or some ecological crime.

Am I wrong?

All courts in the USA can still be flipped to common law jurisdiction. It's your God given right to drink water to survive. All you'd have to say is, I got thirsty and needed water. Common law doesn't recognize new age nonsense laws like statutes.

 

[John in OH]

I don't believe so. You can have 1,000,000 gallons in a municipal tank, and the pressure is still based on the difference between the water elevation and the outfall location. Smaller masses of water will drop in pressure faster as the water runs out, but no change in pressure.

AR-Trvir is correct. The volume of water is totally irrelevant for pressure determination. Only the differential elevation, as he describes, determines the available pressure.

 

[theoldwizard1]

The opposite of rain water collection ...

The City of Detroit has had issues with collecting enough money on their water and sewerage charges for DOZENS of years. In the past, they just overcharged the suburbs, but now the water department is run by a board including representative from 3 counties that surround Detroit.

Because the vast majority of Detroit (like most large cities) has a combined sewer system, dealing with rain water runoff is a problem. They have added a charge to your water and sewer bill for every square foot of "non-permeable" surface you have on your property.

Time for gravel or other permeable hard surface in parking lots !!

 

[Schurkey]

My sh!t-hole town separated the storm sewer from the sanitary sewer twenty+ years ago. They still piss 'n' moan about "permeable surface". They make it near impossible for a homeowner to get a building permit for adding more paved surface on a home lot, but they couldn't care less how much pavement a business has.