Valkyrie Posted May 26, 2008 Share Posted May 26, 2008 OH has been in his element this morning - harvesting the rainwater! We have 2 large water butts, although they aren't linked and we are using the old recycling bin for additional collection plus a plastic dustbin at the bottom of the garden. In the greenhouse is another water butt and loads of bottles full of rainwater. We had nearly run out, but in one day he has almost refilled the lot. He was out there for over an hour, and so thrilled with himself when he came in! What do you collect water in - I gather there are some massive containers around now? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
redhotchick Posted May 27, 2008 Share Posted May 27, 2008 Every bucket I can lay my hands on! The chickens love rainwater so much, you'd think it was nectar for them. I get soaked going out in the rain! I found this site last week whilst looking for something else, They have slimline plastic tanks, and also really massive metal ones - if you have the space! www.cityirrigation.co.uk I don't know how competitive they are, and I haven't used them myself. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Valkyrie Posted May 27, 2008 Author Share Posted May 27, 2008 Dunno what happened, I clicked on a smiley and the whole lot disappeared! Second time lucky and I'm not touching the smileys this time. Thank's Rhc - they are pretty big, I Googled the manufacturer names and came up with more sites - with even bigger ones - 10000 litre capacity, mind you the price was £2200+, so would need to get a mortgage for that! Probably need planning permission for the size of the thing too! Certainly something for a smallholding - in the next 5 years or so. I have so many containers in the greenhouse now, I can't reach my blooming plants - thanks OH for thinking that through, now I will have to shift the lot around - arghhhh! He was so excited - went on about it for ages "just think all that came from the greenhouse roof, we could collect loads from the shed and house roof too". I think we are going to get a wet summer now we are well stocked with water! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Dogmother Posted May 27, 2008 Share Posted May 27, 2008 What he needs is a grey water collection system for his house. I think that AnnieP has one. It's a vast tank buried underground, which collects water from the roofs, baths etc and filters it for use flushing toilets, irrigating plants and the suchlike. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
redhotchick Posted May 27, 2008 Share Posted May 27, 2008 Ooh grey water storage now you are talking! People always think underground storage (and digging etc.) But I'm sure it's possible to put a storage tank on top of a flat roof, as long as it can take the weight..... My garage has a flat roof now you've got me thinking... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Dogmother Posted May 27, 2008 Share Posted May 27, 2008 Now, I'd put some solar water heating panels on your flat roof and a water tank elsewhere... just a thought. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Valkyrie Posted May 28, 2008 Author Share Posted May 28, 2008 Love the idea of an underwater tank. We have a flat garage roof too - how about containers on that and then put the solar panels on top, thus giving the containers a bit of shade! If the roof collapses, it is only OH's workstuff in the garage! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Blackrocksrock Posted May 28, 2008 Share Posted May 28, 2008 I collect in two water butts - one off the house roof and it then goes to the one beside the greenhouse for watering the plants. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DominicJ Posted May 29, 2008 Share Posted May 29, 2008 I dont even have a down pipe from the gutters. In a terrace of 4 houses they're right at the corners, so to fit a water butt, well, its just not possible because I dont have a drain for overflow. Very annoying Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Valkyrie Posted May 29, 2008 Author Share Posted May 29, 2008 Poor Dominic - you aren't alone - our grey water goes down internal pipes - between the walls, so makes it difficult to catch any that way apart from syphoning it through the windows - not keen on getting a mouthful of bath water, yuk! We are lucky with the rainwater - it could be collected from the house, and we used to, but couldn't get access to the side of our house and it had to go, so the greenhouse (which is fairly big) is our main catcher now. My dad collects some from his shed and from his 2 downpipes from the gutters - although he is at the end of a terrace - don't think the house in between has any downpipes either. They use a lot of rainwater in their loo to save water as they are metered. At the moment we don't have a meter yet (just as well as son takes hours in the shower). Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AnnieP Posted May 30, 2008 Share Posted May 30, 2008 Hey folks, yes, we have a grey water system. We do not have mains drainage so when we had an extension built on our house, we had to become more environmentally friendly with our waste, so we had a biodisk fitted as part of a small water treatment system. It means all of our waste water goes through this system, gets treated and is then stored in a tank underground, ready for us to pump and use again. Apparently it is good enough to drink, but I have never been able to bring myself to do it. It was quite expensive to have fitted, but I love the fact that our water doesn't just soak away into the ground. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Valkyrie Posted May 30, 2008 Author Share Posted May 30, 2008 That's really good. Regards, Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
