Working system,might have some usefull ideas

[Iain]

My system has been running for about 2 years now, but has been modified and adapted over this time. I have a shed up the garden which is about 4m higher than my house. I have 6 IBCs stacked 2 high(all these are linked with 22mm pipework and ball valves for water transfer). 2 of the IBCs are filled directly from the shed roof guttering. 2 IBCs are filled directly from the rear house roof(via garage). As the house is lower than the shed,the water from the house roof goes via a stainless filter into two linked storage drums in the garage (adjacent to the house). There is a float switch in one of these drums that switches on a pump to pump the water up to the shed automatically. Once the water is stored in the shed I use the remaining 2 IBCs as ready use tanks. These, I  topp-up every 1 or 2 weeks by gravity from the four main storage IBCs, I chlorinate these when I top them up. There is a small header tank on top of my stack of IBCs, this is supplied from my ready use tanks via a small bronze water pump and float switch. This header tank is high enough to supply both the toilets and washing machine via gravity flow. The water coming into the house is put through a 5 micron filter. These filters cartridges are about £2 each and last about 4months. I used to use 25 micron filters but these are about £8 and last 6 months. So I use the cheaper ones and they keep the water cleaner. All I have to do with this system is to top up the ready use tanks once a fortnight from the storage tanks and add a bit of chlorine, clean my S/S filter once a month and replace my filter cartridge once every 4 months.
I have put a water meter on the supply to the house to see how much I use. This last 12 months I have used 30M3(30,000 liters) works a treat and saves me over £4/M3
So far I haven't run out of water in over 2 years and I have used the tanks to water the garden as well. The water for the garden hasn't come through the water meter so my savings are even greater. If I did ever run out all I have to do is to open a mains tap and fill up one or more of my IBCs. So far the rain has supplied everything. The water from the front roof of my house is not collected. It is a bit trickier to do but if I needed more water it could be done in the future. Hope some of this is of some use to anyone thinking of setting up a system.

[Ivan]

Sounds great. Have you any pictures?

When I get a bit more organised, I'm going to see if I can squeeze IBCs under my suspended floor, as I am very lacking in space.

[Iain]

Will try and sort some photos tomorrow or Sunday

[guydewdney]

Do you use black or white/clear IBCs? I have heard the black ones are to prevent algae growth.

What does the pump draw leccy wise?

[Iain]

White IBCs but they are in the shed, so are not in any direct sunlight. No algae in two years.Both pumps are from machine mart. Pump to transfer water from garage up to shed is a TAM120(1500watts) This pump is probably more than large enough, I only paid £45 for it instead of £100(returned item) It only runs for a short time every time. The pump that supplies the header tank is CEB 102 normally £70 but I got it for £30(again a returned item) this is 370 watts, again this pump only runs for about 30 seconds at a time to top up the header tank.
Iain

[guydewdney]

interesting....

We have a stream next to us (being a Mill... )and had comtemplated 'grey' water bog flushing etc.

[stephen]

Iain,
What do you chlorinate your tanks with and how much do you put in.  Do you use the tablets from the boat industry?

[billi]

We have a stream next to us (being a Mill... )and had comtemplated 'grey' water bog flushing etc.

our whole house uses the water from the stream    still alive   thanks to filtration system...


unfortunately  rainwater harvesting becomes only attractive to people when the main water is getting costly .... but thats the way it goes

because of the fact that in Europe by law you are limited to the usage of the rainwater in the house ( so no showers with it.....)

i  lived in a household for a few month instead of using rainwater they had a filtersystem ( aproved )  to use the waste water of washingmaschine all the showers again for the toilets , dishwasher and washing again...  so they then reused the water for what they paid for ....for applications they woulnot be allowed to use pure unfiltated rainwater....

strange live 

billi

[Iain]

Chlorinate with Briswim Hispec Chlorine liquid (liquid for pools)1cc/100lts when I top up the ready use tanks(use syringe)
Photos
No1:-Back of house with filter and pipe going to garage storage tanks
No2:-garage storage tanks and pump/float switch to pump water to shed
No3-Shed!!
No4:-Top 2 for water from garage, bottom 2 ready use
No5:-2 more ,to collect shed roof water
No6:-Pump to fill header tank
No7:-Header tank with overflow and float switch
No8:-5micron filter as water enters house
4more photos to follow

[Iain]

next 4 pics

[guydewdney]

The white pvc pipe isnt rated for potable water - you do know this dont you?

Do your neighbors think you are mad

[Paulh_Boats]

Iain,

Thanks for the pictures, looks like a clever system. Have you calculated how much energy is used per m3? (Severn Trent quote 0.7kWh per m3).

Also did you have to do anything to prevent freezing?

I think you have just become our rainwater expert! Well done.

-Paul

[Iain]

Paul
Haven't done any calculations. Might get one of those power meters anyway and then I can check it out. Answer to previous by guydewdney:- it's not used as potable water so white PVC isn't a problem.  No problem with freezing so far, the tanks are in the shed and the supply from the shed to the house is underground . I live in the southwest so we don't get much heavy freezing. Might be different if I was up north!. I do have a heater in the shed for when I work up there so if the worst comes to the worst it could just take the chill off.
Iain

[stephen]

What a fantastic set up.  Its scary as I there is only enough water there to last me less than 3 days there.
Its a nice well thought of system. Can you take a few pics or show us the rain catcher in the down pipe.


Stephen

[Iain]

Stephen
Here is a link to the website showing the rain filter(http://www.constructionresources.com/products/services/wisyfilter.asp) It is a self cleaning stainless filter. I could do you a photo tomorrow if you still need one.
Iain