Rainwater Harvesting

[briquette_seller]

Does anyone do this?

Any downsides to doing this?

 

Recently moved into a house that has a water meter, looking to install a Rainwater Harvesting system for washing the motor etc, not for using in the house.

[matelot]

I'd be concerned that during winter the pipes freeze and burst. I also understand if sunlight gets into the tank you can get algae. Both problems could easily be overcome though.

 

If I was going to di it I would use an IBC tank - cheap and cheerful.

[Capetown]

I installed a 3200lt tank a couple of years ago. It's linked up to the garage guttering, and raised up on a stollege to increase the head. Works fine for the garden!

[SteveA]

Why not flush the toilet with it as well? Cheers, steve

[predator]

i do it too have 4 waterbutts on the go and one piped to the bog works well as iam on a meter also

[briquette_seller]

How did you get a new feed into the house?

[Stubby]

My brother does it in Australia . He has to . He uses it for everything bar the drinking water .

[Tim Stobart Tree Surgery]

Hi, back in my days as a drainage consultant we used to cover this. No, there's no downside, just the cost of installing it. I'd get it done properly, hook it in to all your toilets, even your washing machine if you put a filter in the system. The best way to do it is with a tank in the ground or at ground level, pumping up to a small head tank in your loft. If during periods of drought, or in the case that the pump has failed, this head tank should be connected to top up from the mains to prevent the system running dry.

 

IMHO it should be mandatory on all new builds, driving the cost or the systems down and creating a stronger industry, but then why would politicians want to do that.

[One Buck]

Hi, back in my days as a drainage consultant we used to cover this. No, there's no downside, just the cost of installing it. I'd get it done properly, hook it in to all your toilets, even your washing machine if you put a filter in the system. The best way to do it is with a tank in the ground or at ground level, pumping up to a small head tank in your loft. If during periods of drought, or in the case that the pump has failed, this head tank should be connected to top up from the mains to prevent the system running dry.

 

IMHO it should be mandatory on all new builds, driving the cost or the systems down and creating a stronger industry, but then why would politicians want to do that.

 

Totally agree, would also alleviate flood risk.

[aspen]

I was reading something the other day about how its illegal to harvest rainwater in some states of america. The worlds going crazy.