Utilizing Downspout Rain Water 6 June 2008 Utilizing Downspout Rain Water http://www.durgan.org/ShortURL/?WRYEY 6 June 2008. Utilizing Eaves Trough Water. 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 http://www.durgan.org/ShortURL/?PEKMC 8 June 2008 Rain Barrel Project Completed. The down spout was modified for Winter use, when the barrel will be disconnected due to freezing. http://www.durgan.org/ShortURL/?SVGTC 8 June 2008 Overflow during rainstorm. The overflow works well. It was raining rather hard at the time the picture was taken. http://www.durgan.org/ShortURL/?LTEZR 10 June 2008 Another barrel added for extra capacity. http://www.durgan.org/ShortURL/?EMYAL 13 June 2008 Two more rain water tanks installed. Two more rainbarrels were added to the other side of the house. This will give a total capacity of 180 gallons, and more barrels of 45 gallons can be added easily, depending upon the usage. This is a "closed" system. No bugs can enter the tanks, so screening is not necessary. The bungs are only open during rainfall, and to allow air to enter when removing water from the tanks. Notice the modifications to the downspout. Cut off 8 inches of the downpipe and insert a flexible plastic coupling for Winter use, and an elbow running off to the rain barrel. Insert some straps to support the downspout if the existing ones are considered insufficient. This method is 100% leakproof. http://www.durgan.org/ShortURL/?VXDIS 16 June 2008 Installing immersion pump to dispense rainfall water. The plastic barrel is filled by gravity from the two top barrels. The pump pressure is almost the same as city water pressure, so I added a garden hose for dispensing water to the flower beds. The pump float automatically switches the system off when the water is too low in the barrel. Basically the system is still an enclosed reservoir, so no bug screening is required. This is probably not necessary, since dipping out of the upright barrel is easy enough. http://www.durgan.org/ShortURL/?YMOXC 21 June 2008 Practical Rainwater Collection System Construction Details. Pictures are annotated. http://www.durgan.org/ShortURL/?HBRPA 24 June 2008 Downspout Crimping Tool. A downspout crimping tool was received today (Internet) , after I have completed the rainbarrel project. this tool is almost essential when dealing with downspouts, since often connections must be made with pipes of the same size to insure the water flows inside the pipes. Without the tool connections are difficult. Don't attempt the project with out it to reduce frustration. http://www.durgan.org/ShortURL/?WKKAS 26 June 2008 Rainwater Delivery System. Putting water in a wheelbarrow has its problems; in that wave action causes spillage. The tub limits wave action, and the wheelbarrow can be pushed at a normal pace. This system is convenient for moving water from the rainbarrels to the area required
http://www.durgan.org/ShortURL/?PEKMC 8 June 2008 Rain Barrel Project Completed. The down spout was modified for Winter use, when the barrel will be disconnected due to freezing.
http://www.durgan.org/ShortURL/?SVGTC 8 June 2008 Overflow during rainstorm. The overflow works well. It was raining rather hard at the time the picture was taken.
Howdy Durgan, Welcome to the club. To avoid neighbours' complaints, I place a goldfish (feeder type is dirt cheap) in each barrel to control mosquitoes (main concern with neighbours and local government). Feed them as if they are indoors. The biowaste they add to the water adds nutrients to the water. Peace Thean PS Mosquito problems may have nothing to do with your rainbarrels but why give anyone a chance to point a finger.
http://www.durgan.org/ShortURL/?LTEZR 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 reasonable.
http://www.durgan.org/ShortURL/?EMYAL 13 June 2008 Two more rain water tanks installed. Two more rainbarrels were added to the other side of the house. This will give a total capacity of 180 gallons, and more barrels of 45 gallons can be added easily, depending upon the usage. This is a "closed" system. No bugs can enter the tanks, so screening is not necessary. The bungs are only open during rainfall, and to allow air to enter when removing water from the tanks. Notice the modifications to the downspout. Cut off 8 inches of the downpipe and insert a flexible plastic coupling for Winter use, and an elbow running off to the rain barrel. Insert some straps to support the downspout if the existing ones are considered insufficient. This method is 100% leakproof.
http://www.durgan.org/ShortURL/?VXDIS 16 June 2008 Installing immersion pump to dispense rainfall water. The plastic barrel is filled by gravity from the two top barrels. The pump pressure is almost the same as city water pressure, so I added a garden hose for dispensing water to the flower beds. The pump float automatically switches the system off when the water is too low in the barrel. Basically the system is still an enclosed reservoir, so no bug screening is required. This is probably not necessary, since dipping out of the upright barrel is easy enough..
http://www.durgan.org/ShortURL/?YMOXC 21 June 2008 Practical Rainwater Collection System Construction Details. Pictures are annotated.
Excellent thread Durgan! I just started this year getting my water from my down spouts. We have only well water and I hate to use it on my garden during the dry, hot months when the level is down. Last year I brought all my garden water up from the river and still may have to get some there in a another month when it's not raining at all. Any way, I have barrels under my down spouts and when they fill up I pack it out to my different gardens where I have more barrels to use as holding tanks. My 55 gallon barrels will fill up in about 20 minutes during a hard rain. I've been transporting it in 5 gallon buckets to the holding barrels and it's a heck of a work-out once you get up to 100 gallons or so! When I read your post about the sump pump I could of kicked myself as I've had one in the shed all along and it never dawned on me to hook it up! It rained for about two hours today and I was able to move 150 gallons of rain water effortlessly!
http://www.durgan.org/ShortURL/?HBRPA 24 June 2008 Downspout Crimping Tool. A downspout crimping tool was received today (Internet) , after I have completed the rainbarrel project. this tool is almost essential when dealing with downspouts, since often connections must be made with pipes of the same size to insure the water flows inside the pipes. Without the tool connections are difficult. Don't attempt the project with out it to reduce frustration.
http://www.durgan.org/ShortURL/?WKKAS 26 June 2008 Rainwater Delivery System. Putting water in a wheelbarrow has its problems; in that wave action causes spillage. The tub limits wave action, and the wheelbarrow can be pushed at a normal pace. This system is convenient for moving water from the rainbarrels to the area required
