Rainwater Harvesting

[Howsie]

One of my customers is interested in having a 6000l tank installed for their garden irrgation system. Don't know much about these apart from it'll be a bloody big hole.

Any guidance gratefully received.

 

[Destroyer2813]

Done a little estate with em in had chamber in the back garden filled from the down pipes and then a overflow to a soakaway, 25mm blue poly from the chamber back into the house into a control box under the sink which also had the normal incoming main going into it, then went to a small tank in the loft with two ballvalves which then feed the toilets and outside taps

 

[aqualogic7]

dont use blue poly for rainwater harvested water there is a separate colour coded pipe (black with green stripe) for this see wras web site look in publications all you need to know there :25:

 

[SimonG]

I think kingspan do a good range, remember seeing something.

 

[AWheating]

the tank in loft is a better solution over direct feed, still works with power outage and pump failure. The key is to install correctly to MI. I have worked on a few jobs with direct feed RWH and 50% plus of them we were back within a year and a half disconnect and repipe to mains water supplys due to the amount of problems.

as mentioned the pipework needs to be grey/green stripe and all internal pipework, fixtures need to be identified as carrying reclaimed water including a data badge at the mains stop tap, toilet cisterns, outside tap. You need to put a not drinking water sign at the outside tap also to cover yourself.

 

[Howsie]

This is only for the garden.

 

[AWheating]

seems alot of expense to water the garden. Is it a large area to water?

basically you just need a tank,connected to rwp's a submersable pump and a hose pipe. cheaper to couple some water butts and drop a pump in if theres room. How much are they looking to spend?

 

[Howsie]

It's a four million pound house. A couple of water butts ain't going to cut it me thinks. .

Believe me, I wish it would as my old back isn't up to the digging.

 

[northstar]

It's a four million pound house. A couple of water butts ain't going to cut it me thinks. .

Believe me, I wish it would as my old back isn't up to the digging.

you could get a mini digger in

 

[AWheating]

you aint going to dig it out with a spade, have you seen the size of the tanks and how deep you need to fit them? you will need a jcb. the tank height is very important as you will need an overflow back to sewer once its full. The further away from the house the more expensive and work involved. i guess tho if they have some money then spending thousands to water the garden is no concern.

Why dont you find a groundworking/drainage company who fits the stuff and subby it too them, let them get building permission, design and fit it and you take you cake with no hard labour. your back will thank you for it

 

[Howsie]

I'm joking about the hole. The only hole I dig now is for non paying customers.

Mini digger all the way!

 

[stevetheplumber]

you aint going to dig it out with a spade, have you seen the size of the tanks and how deep you need to fit them?

they dug the grand union canal with spades you seen the size of that lol

 

[AWheating]

they dug the grand union canal with spades you seen the size of that lol

imagine the risk assessment for that LOL.

 

[peteheat]

Done properly you need a concrete base with steel coming up the sides and across the top of the tank to prevent ground water from lifting it out of the ground should it start to empty.

There are concrete tanks as well which are easier to install due to their weight.

We were offered a package where two ball valves were to be fitted in the main storage tank in the attic, a submersible pump with a flow switch in the tank answered the call for water, if the tank ran low the mains would top up the storage tank hence two ball valves.

We fitted one which was not a lot of plumbing more civil engineering (fancy name for digging the big hole) my only concern is the second ball valve is under constant pressure so we fitted an "1 1/4 overflow just in case the valves broke or stuck open.

A UV bulb is fitted on the supply to kill off any nasties and a mesh which is self cleaning is fitted where the water off the roof goes into the tank, last thing is you need to be able to fit an overflow from the tank in the ground.

We are about to be hit with water meters in private homes so a good system should pay for itself especially in a house with a large garden where they need a lot of water for plants etc.

 

[sparkitsolution]

The newer tanks or modular tanks for storing rainwater are flat, thin and rectangular in shape. They can be joined later, fits beautifully and looks like fence or wall.
Thanks