Rainwater collection

[CapnAl]

40x60 garage to be built. I am thinking that collecting rainwater from roof gutters and storing it in a (possibly 2500 gal) tank would be a great way to water my lawn. Right now, grass is BURNT, so if I could put an in-ground sprinkler system in and feed it from the rainwater tank, I'd be doing a double-good thing, 'cause the powers that be in my area want some kind of a rock-filled rainwater retention anyway when I build the new garage. So, good idea? Then, is this a diy or should I look at a specialist? Either way, what to get, what to look for, all the questions related to getting a system going. I'd probably look at just watering out front, about 1/2 acre. I guess a pump system from the collection tank, some way to drain/vent system before it freezes, and whatever else I need to be educated on is where you guys come in. So whadda you guys think???

 

[Stinger]

I think you should calculate how much water you'll need to put 1" of water on your lawn first...you'll be shocked at how many gallons it is.

 

[HOTFR8]

These two tanks on my Shed supply me with water for the whole property. I have my mains supply off at present (why pay for it when all tanks are overflowing). I have another two tanks on the house that supply filtered drinkiing water and another tank yet again on another Garage. If need be I can pump from the other tanks to the shed tanks as they have bigger storage. In a dry summer I usualy switch the grounds to mains supply and if I run short I can also switch the house over to mains water supply as well and still have filtered drinking rain water. Grey water is also used here on lawns and trees.

 

[EOC_Jason]

I agree with #2, first you need to calculate out how much water you will be using and backtrack from there.

 

[Jeff95TA]

If you're watering a full 1/2 acre with 1" of water, that would take 13,577 gal.

 

[Falcon67]

If you're watering a full 1/2 acre with 1" of water, that would take 13,577 gal.

About the same as a 24~26' diameter x 52" deep swimming pool.

 

[signcrafter]

These two tanks on my Shed supply me with water for the whole property. I have my mains supply off at present (why pay for it when all tanks are overflowing). I have another two tanks on the house that supply filtered drinkiing water and another tank yet again on another Garage. If need be I can pump from the other tanks to the shed tanks as they have bigger storage. In a dry summer I usualy switch the grounds to mains supply and if I run short I can also switch the house over to mains water supply as well and still have filtered drinking rain water. Grey water is also used here on lawns and trees.

That's pretty cool. Any issues with bacteria or other things leaving water sitting in a tank? I've been thinking about setting something up for next year's garden since this year was a pretty dry year so far. Something like a 250 gallon or maybe a few 55 gallon drums, nothing as big as yours. I was just worried about stagnant water.

 

[EOC_Jason]

Our (commercial) septic system pumps out daily to an area about 250' x 60' with 4 sprinklers. The pump tank capacity is a little over 1,500 gallons... It's never completely full and it never pumps completely empty, but you could guestimate that 1,000 gallons a day gets pumped.

 

[HOTFR8]

That's pretty cool. Any issues with bacteria or other things leaving water sitting in a tank? I've been thinking about setting something up for next year's garden since this year was a pretty dry year so far. Something like a 250 gallon or maybe a few 55 gallon drums, nothing as big as yours. I was just worried about stagnant water.

No problems with bacteria. They do have fine mesh filter screens and they have to be cleaned often. They stop leaves and rubbish etc. Dirt will settle to the bottom and only gets disturbed when the tanks get low but that has only happened once in the last 12 years. The smaller your water storage the more likely it can get stagnent and attract things like mosquitos to breed. You can never have to much water stored in rain water tanks.

If you have problems with mosquitos some kerosene or metholated spirits floating on the surface will stop them. You only need a very small amount.

 

[Devildogs]

The prepper comunity has done alot with rain water collection and storage. Theres a sieries of videos on you tube that shows you step by step. It deals with problems like how to set it up to divert the flow from your gutters and have it switch back when the tanks are full and seting up a venting system and capturing debris. Just look up prepper water storage and off you go.

 

[Reg1952]

Check out rainbrothers.com

 

[volvo]

...
Beware of the Medford Oregon Rain/snow Water Nazis....

A man jailed in medford for stealing rainwater,
Rainwater collection case leads to jail sentence, fine

http://www.mailtribune.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20120726/NEWS/207260314/-1/rss01

 

[DekeT]

...
Beware of the Medford Oregon Rain/snow Water Nazis....

A man jailed in medford for stealing rainwater,
Rainwater collection case leads to jail sentence, fine

http://www.mailtribune.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20120726/NEWS/207260314/-1/rss01

I read that and it was more than just collecting rainwater on his property. He was also convicted by a jury. So his jury(neighbors) are also Nazis?

From the article.
"A six-person jury earlier this month sided with the state on nine misdemeanor charges. They were three counts each on charges of illegal use of water denied by a watermaster, unauthorized use of water and interfering with a lawfully established head gate or water box.

The charges are all misdemeanors. Harrington pleaded guilty to similar charges in 2002 and applied for permits for his reservoirs, but they were denied."

 

[bgarrett]

These two tanks on my Shed supply me with water for the whole property.

How many gallons do these hold and what is the size in feet?

 

[theoldwizard1]

I got 4 - 55 gallon barrels out behind my garage and a large in ground dry well. Neither help during a drought.

BTW, just had over 1" of rain. Probably the most we have had in the past 3 or 4 months ! A couple more like that in the next few weeks and people will have to start cutting their lawns again !

 

[EOC_Jason]

The drought last year here in Texas was killer. Lakes & ponds were literally drying up completely. They were finding old cars and even pieces of the space shuttle!

55 gallon drums are about good enough to water a small garden for a few days.

 

[SCWOOD]

This is what I did, just two 55gal barrels.We use the water for a small vegetable garden and my wife uses water for her potted flowers.

 

[Mr.Magoo]

I am with Volvo and DekeT.... Better check the playing field and try to smell out the Nazi regime first. They claimed in Oregon that all water is public water. In Kalifornia they claim that all water above, below and on the surface is the State's water. Sounds like "State" means Communist State. Look far and wide before you spend a lot of money on your collection system. And do not trust any of your neighbors either, at the mere suggestion of something stupid, they will rat you out for brownie points. Remember those kids who wore the BROWN SHIRTS in GERMANY 1939!!! Nuff said

 

[Bob C]

Lakes & ponds were literally drying up completely. They were finding old cars and even pieces of the space shuttle!

What!? What pieces? From the one that blew up?

 

[tribbles]

...
Beware of the Medford Oregon Rain/snow Water Nazis....

A man jailed in medford for stealing rainwater,
Rainwater collection case leads to jail sentence, fine

http://www.mailtribune.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20120726/NEWS/207260314/-1/rss01

Wow, that's timely. I forwarded this to a friend of mine in Medford who's been contemplating doing this.

 

[EOC_Jason]

From how I read it, it was because he was taking water / snow from the river. You can't divert water from rivers without permits!

Just to tick them off he should drill a big water well on his property.

 

[Will67]

I am with Volvo and DekeT.... Better check the playing field and try to smell out the Nazi regime first. They claimed in Oregon that all water is public water. In Kalifornia they claim that all water above, below and on the surface is the State's water. Sounds like "State" means Communist State. Look far and wide before you spend a lot of money on your collection system. And do not trust any of your neighbors either, at the mere suggestion of something stupid, they will rat you out for brownie points. Remember those kids who wore the BROWN SHIRTS in GERMANY 1939!!! Nuff said

Wow didn't know we had an expert on Porter-Cologne Water Quality Control Act, California is one of the few States that does not have a State level water well permit for domestic use. It is handled on a County level. So your idiotic rant about california is based on opinion and not fact.

From page 55 of the document itself
§ 13382. Wells
Waste discharge requirements shall be adopted to control the disposal of pollutants into wells or in areas where pollutants may enter into a well from the surrounding groundwater.

Oooohhh spooky brown shirt over reaching government.....not

 

[HOTFR8]

How many gallons do these hold and what is the size in feet?

Sorry not information I have readily at hand as it is not something I am asked every day. Not even sure what they would hold in Gallons. The smallest rain water tank I have holds about 500 litres so my guess is the tanks in the photos hold about 2000 litres each. I would think when all the tanks here are full we would have about 6500 / 7000 litres of rain water stored in all five tanks.

Using Google >
One gallon is equal to just over 3 litres. 7000 Litres = 1849.204 Gallons.

 

[bgarrett]

Sorry not information I have readily at hand as it is not something I am asked every day. Not even sure what they would hold in Gallons. The smallest rain water tank I have holds about 500 litres so my guess is the tanks in the photos hold about 2000 litres each. I would think when all the tanks here are full we would have about 6500 / 7000 litres of rain water stored in all five tanks.

Using Google >
One gallon is equal to just over 3 litres. 7000 Litres = 1849.204 Gallons.

thank you for the answer and the translation.
those tanks appear to be more than 10 feet wide and I wonder how I could get them to my place. I think our roads have a 8' wide limit

 

[bigbubba]

thank you for the answer and the translation.
those tanks appear to be more than 10 feet wide and I wonder how I could get them to my place. I think our roads have a 8' wide limit

Just gotta get over width permits,No big deal most of the time.

 

[Bellicose]

Sorry not information I have readily at hand as it is not something I am asked every day. Not even sure what they would hold in Gallons. The smallest rain water tank I have holds about 500 litres so my guess is the tanks in the photos hold about 2000 litres each. I would think when all the tanks here are full we would have about 6500 / 7000 litres of rain water stored in all five tanks.

Using Google >
One gallon is equal to just over 3 litres. 7000 Litres = 1849.204 Gallons.

Hey FR8, those tanks look to be 'bout between 6000 & 8000 litres each mate. My old concrete one was smaller than those (as much as i can figure by looking at pic's) and it was a 4500 litre one. The one i have now is a 10,000 litre concrete one up in the back paddock.

 

[Jaguar Fan]

I have a friend in the hills of Los Gatos CA who have about 100 acres, of which 40 are landscaped & the rest is natural. So... he put in a water collection, treatment & storage system to collect the water off the hill (his own property). He has the capacity to store about a million gallons for irrigation.

 

[HOTFR8]

thank you for the answer and the translation.
those tanks appear to be more than 10 feet wide and I wonder how I could get them to my place. I think our roads have a 8' wide limit

No problem and most welcome.

Just gotta get over width permits,No big deal most of the time.

Most vehicles that deliver tanks here in Australia do have a wide load capacity and most that deliver the poly tanks would have a permanent wide load licence. One or two people can roll them and place them into postion.

Hey FR8, those tanks look to be 'bout between 6000 & 8000 litres each mate. My old concrete one was smaller than those (as much as i can figure by looking at pic's) and it was a 4500 litre one. The one i have now is a 10,000 litre concrete one up in the back paddock.

The tank capacity is just one of those things I just have not needed to recall as to what they hold. As long as they are full or near full then I am happy . Not many use concrete tanks any more. I also find so many tank people still talk gallons and not litres and that can be very confusing.

 

[6768rogues]

One way to do something illegal is to use rainwater for domestic purposes when a sanitary sewer system is used. Sewer fees are for the amount of water consumed, so consuming water from somewhere else is stealing sewer service.
Another way to get in trouble is having a cross connection between a private water source and a public supply.

 

[HOTFR8]

One way to do something illegal is to use rainwater for domestic purposes when a sanitary sewer system is used. Sewer fees are for the amount of water consumed, so consuming water from somewhere else is stealing sewer service.
Another way to get in trouble is having a cross connection between a private water source and a public supply.

That is not an issue here and in fact in some places using rain water for everything is being enviromentaly friendly. No sewage system at my place and we even use grey water in the grounds many of the trees thrive on it during the summer. 100% of my water is sent to the grey water sytem after use in the house and in my shed.

 

[EOC_Jason]

You don't *have* to get a huge container, you can make like a retention pond to store water to use for watering your yard. The plus side is you also have a nice pond.

You can get 3,000 gallon underground fiberglass containers, I know they use that size for septic systems. Anything larger would either have to be concrete or above ground.

We are on private water well + aerobic septic system. The water coming out goes to sprinklers to water the grass. You can just as easily use it for landscaping or whatnot. It does not smell, however you can't use it as potable water...

 

[HOTFR8]

Any legalities about Ponds or Dams in built up areas ? In some cases here pool fencing could be required.

 

[Xicaque]

This sure is a crazy thread!!