How well is your rainwater system working in the summer heat wave?

[Paulh_Boats]

We have 600L in three water butts that gets used exclusively for watering the garden and vegetable plot.

The lowest level this year during a dry spell has been 1/3rd ... so the system is about the right size for gardening. I'm planning to use it for loo flushing, but clearly that will need even more storage.


It will be interesting to hear how other systems are coping.

-Paul

[petertc]

The kids don't use shampoo or soap when so the bath water gets dumped into the tank for flushing the toilets. also any water that collected on the paddling pool cover got pumped in to the tank as well. we have 2 x 120 litre butts for the garden and 1250 litre for the house.
I have had to top up with mains water once this year a month or so ago, ( this was more down to the feed pipe being blocked)

[Flamethrower_]

Managed to empty our 350 litre rainwater butt yesterday (first time in three years!) which is only used for gardening

But thankfully we had a heavy shower this morning which put about 100 litres back into it, still have 1000 litres in reserve, but this may change when I connect the toilets in the house !

[Iain]

Hi
I have 6000lts storage, it is now down to 400lts. I use it for the toilets and washing machine rinsing only. I haven't used it for the garden this year,Need some rain!!!
Have just linked next doors guttering into mine to aid collection. Just 2 of us in the house so I think 6000 lts would be a minimum.
Up to now I have been collecting from the rear roof of my house and large shed only.
Link to a previous post
http://www.navitron.org.uk/forum/index.php/topic,2960.0.html
Any use
Iain

[wookey]

We've got 680l (5 120l butts, one 80l butt, linked) used only for garden-watering. That's just about enough (filled up 1/3rd last weekend). Biggest problem this year was when connecting hose fell out and drained two of them then it didn't rain for ages. Didn't _quite_ run out.

Would need at least another 1000l for house - 3000 would be better from some calcs I did. 

[sleepybubble]

we use about 2 acres of steep sloping grass land to harvest rain water which reappears at a well that was here before we moved in, take about 50 litres a day out of it for watering the veg plot and for the animals, (2 pigs, 6 hens and their gent, 4 ducks and 6 turkeys) it hasn't run dry yet this year but it was getting close a few weeks ago.

[Iain]

Just an addition to my last

We are using about 2000lts /month from the rainwater. I put a water meter in the line just to keep an eye on it.(toilets and washing machine/2 adults)
Iain

[RichieC]

Hi

 I have a 4800 litre underground tank, and another 350 litre tank in the loft. Came close to putting the mains feed on as pump failed in underground tank. Here in the sunny south east My underground tank is now 80% full. Closest we have come to running out was back in April. Feeding toilets and veg patch in garden. 

[Paulh_Boats]

Our 600L of water butts are now at 80% .... about 6m X 3m of veggie patch, a dozen large pots, 30 cuttings and 4 growbags of tomatoes to water....so 600L is looking fine.

However for the house we'd need a lot more for flushing (20m3 per year). My plan will be to extend collection to include front half of house roof + conservatory + 6m long shed/patio roof. That's about 2.5 times current area.

-Paul

[Flamethrower_]

1st week on flushing  loos with rain water this week. It certainly makes you realise how much water you use for just flushing away 

We have used 500 litres this week  just now waiting for the forecasted rain to arrive, never thought I woud be saying that so soon, just proves how much we take it for granted.