Utilizing Downspout Rain Water

[Durgan]

6 June 2008 Utilizing Downspout Rain Water

http://haeha.notlong.com/ 6 June 2008 Installing a tank for collecting eaves trough rain water. for plant use.
Today a tank was installed to utilize some of the eaves trough rain water. This method is a practical approach utilizing material readily available, and making the installation as simple as possible. Total time including purchasing the necessary supplies was seven hours.

The 45 gallon drum cost $10.00 readily available from various local recycling companies.
The 3/4 inch NPT tap valve, a boiler drain valve, cost $9.96.
The fence posts cost $8.67 each for a total of $34.68.
Two eaves elbows (2) cost $3.94
Galvanized cable cost $4.42
Clamps cost $3.54
Miscellaneous cost $3.00.

Total cost. $69.54

[Meggylou]

Durgan you never cease to impress me. That looks fantastic! What a great rain barrel.

[Durgan]

Durgan you never cease to impress me. That looks fantastic! What a great rain barrel.

It is simple, practical, utilizing local material.

Now I am going to address the downspout system. The major problem with down spout rain water is the massive flooding periodically encountered. My simple system addresses this problem to some degree, but a simple diversion system is more practical.

[Durgan]

http://focaip.notlong.com/ 8 June 2008 Rain Barrel Project Completed.

The down spout was modified for Winter use, when the barrel will be disconnected due to freezing.

[B_BQ]

Durgan, you're so ingenious, and also a genius!
You're also a very neat worker.
Obviously a good fellow to have around.
~BBQ

[butterfly]

6 June 2008 Utilizing Downspout Rain Water

http://haeha.notlong.com/ 6 June 2008 Installing a tank for collecting eaves trough rain water. for plant use.
Today a tank was installed to utilize some of the eaves trough rain water. This method is a practical approach utilizing material readily available, and making the installation as simple as possible. Total time including purchasing the necessary supplies was seven hours.

The 45 gallon drum cost $10.00 readily available from various local recycling companies.
The 3/4 inch NPT tap valve, a boiler drain valve, cost $9.96.
The fence posts cost $8.67 each for a total of $34.68.
Two eaves elbows (2) cost $3.94
Galvanized cable cost $4.42
Clamps cost $3.54
Miscellaneous cost $3.00.

Total cost. $69.54

Wow, this really looks great Durgan

I just have tubs so I need something better than I am using
I get wet just to go out, pull the heavy thing away and put another under the rain spout and then I need someone to help as they are so heavy full of water



I could collect more water if I had the right kind of tub,

[Durgan]

[quote="butterfly"

Wow, this really looks great Durgan

I just have tubs so I need something better than I am using
I get wet just to go out, pull the heavy thing away and put another under the rain spout and then I need someone to help as they are so heavy full of water
I could collect more water if I had the right kind of tub,[/quote]

I once had three garbage cans utilizing the same approach you are doing. It was just too much work. Plus the oveflow problem when it rained heavily was often a misery.

Today it rained for about 10 minutes and the tank is just about to the over flow bung. I am going to add another barrel tomorrow side by side to increase the capacity. It appears one could add as many as necessary side by side with little effort. Anyway I will document the procedure and post tomorrow.

[Durgan]

http://mochu.notlong.com 8 June 2008 Overflow during rainstorm.

The overflow works well. It is raining rather hard at the present time.

[Durgan]

http://jahzie.notlong.com 10 June 2008 Another barrel added for extra capacity.

The bung is kept loosely in place, so insects have difficulty getting into the closed system. The system is almost sealed except for the feed from the downspout, and this could be sealed if it was deemed necessary.

The system is easy to withdraw water from, since the gravity feed is more than adequate.

[B_BQ]

Hi Durgan:

Good system.

A couple of years ago we contributed a fee to an organic farm, and in return we would get a basketful of fresh produce each week. It was really good, but far too much produce for the two of us to consume!

They had set up a similar system to the one you're showing. But instead of 2 or 3 barrels they had at least 20!!!

One of them, (and they were a couple well into their 70s), or a volunteer, would get up at 4 am and turn on the system. They had a series of drip hoses attached to all their rows of produce. They found that this worked really well and virtually never had to use any more water than that collected in their system.

I don't know why they never found a way to have an automatic timer set up so that they didn't have to get up at 4am!

~BBQ