Comments on: How to harvest rainwater

By: George

George — Tue, 17 Nov 2009 20:36:39 +0000

If you’re off the grid I can see a compost toilet being more efficient.
I do see the merits of using rainwater vs. municipally treated water.

By: joe

joe — Sun, 26 Jul 2009 13:00:03 +0000

“A complex solution to a simple problem.

Far easier to run a compost toilet. No pumps, filters, in fact very little is needed, most especially, no water.”

yeah because the only thing anyone uses water for is to flush the toilet. brilliant.

By: Skyler

Skyler — Wed, 01 Jul 2009 20:36:29 +0000

Great information in this rainwater harvesting article. I would like to add – a great addition to any rain barrel system is to add a diverter to your downspout that connects to your rain barrel(s). This will prevent debris, bugs, and algae from getting in your water.

By: David Taylor

David Taylor — Thu, 25 Jun 2009 14:57:37 +0000

A complex solution to a simple problem.

Far easier to run a compost toilet. No pumps, filters, in fact very little is needed, most especially, no water.

By: Phil Jones

Phil Jones — Tue, 23 Jun 2009 16:23:14 +0000

actually that should be 5000 litres a year I was getting my gallons muddled, why oh why oh why did we ever go metric?

By: Phil Jones

Phil Jones — Tue, 23 Jun 2009 16:12:16 +0000

I have only rain water for any water use.
I collect from 81sqm of north facing roof. I use a 1/4mm screen filter to separate leaves and stuff then settle it into a 1000 litre black plastic orange juice container (local farm supplier c.£70). These have screw lids with seals and arrive cleaned and smelling of citrus. I can climb inside them to fit taps as the hole is 12″ dia. but larger persons may need to enlist a friend or willing child. DON’T try this on a hot day unless you want to lose a few gallons of body fluid.
From there it is pumped on demand to 2 more OJ containers about 4.5metres above and runs back to the taps where I filter it to 0.5 micron through ceramic and carbon candles (sterasyl). I should use 5micron sediment filters also but i am slack and penniless but a smarter man would.
The pump is a standard 240V swimming pool pump rated for ‘continuous’ use, I tried cheaper pumps but they burn out very quickly even with low use. The controller I had made by a friend and if my memory serves me right it is a NAND gate device which switches three float switches, top level, lower level and empty.
I use around 1000 litres a year but have just added a shower as after five years I was starting to smell… :-D. I have a washing machine and keep hens and grow plants and have never run out of water in the five years I have lived here, even when 300 people descended on me for a party and flushed 500 litres away in one night.
The Environment agency tell me I shouldn’t drink my water as it hasn’t passed their tests, but I assure anyone thinking of using rain water for drinking that it is fine if filtered, has never affected me even unfiltered, I have drunk it for many more years than just my living here and providing caution and common sense are applied should never be problem.
If you are truly paranoid or just enjoy the aroma of hypochlorite then it possible to buy the necessary chemicals to treat your own water.
The 1″ 1sqft 6gall thing doesn’t sound right to me. I get around 500 litres (110gal/132USgal) from a good downpour off 81sqm (900sqft).

By: Don Miller

Don Miller — Mon, 22 Jun 2009 21:57:29 +0000

My home relied on rainwater collection and storage alone for many years – it is a great way to learn self control!

I would recommend that 1000 gallons is a minimum useful quantity to store and reinforced concrete tanks are probably the most economic option. They make great supports for climbing roses too. But do be prepared to clean your gutters frequently and to treat the water if it is used for drinking. The yearly clean-out of the tank can be quite an educational event!!! Some varieties of slugs live on the underside of the tank roof and fall off when they die…….

Please note though that 1 inch of rain on 1 square foot of roof does NOT provide 6 gallons of water – it is actually about half a gallon.