The availability of water at the cottage is an essential factor for comfortable living, as well as providing the plants with life-giving moisture. Harvesting rainwater for watering a vegetable garden or garden is a wise use of natural resources, even if you have an autonomous water supply system on the site.
- How to collect rainwater?
- Rainwater collection tanks
- Rainwater collection system - nuances of arrangement
Rainwater is much softer than tap water, it is almost ideal for watering garden trees and vegetables. It can also be used to wash dishes, to drain the toilet, but it is not suitable for cooking. In addition to the amenities listed, collecting rainwater in the country will help you save money for using resources from a centralized source. One factor is still worth considering - if your cottage is located near factories or near a large city, then the chemical composition of precipitation may contain harmful impurities.
содерж to contents ↑How to collect rainwater?
The easiest way to collect rainwater is to use containers that are placed under the drainpipes, so you can collect rainwater yourself. To keep tanks from losing their qualities over time, they must be made of reliable materials( polyethylene, ceramics, concrete, fiberglass).At the top of such a tank there is usually a damper so that the foliage or other dirt does not get inside, if necessary, the damper opens or closes manually. The volume of the tank can be different - this factor depends on the area of the site, your needs.
Old, proven over the years option - a well for collecting rainwater, it is still used successfully by the villagers. For its arrangement, they dig a deep hole, the walls of which are reinforced and then cemented with a thick layer of concrete. All required holes are counted in advance. You can also use ready-made concrete rings that are stacked on top of each other. In modern design, the wells are equipped with a lid, nets, grates for trash holding, a submersible pump, sometimes the so-called emergency overflow is installed.
Well, photo:
Rainwater collection tanks
Rainwater collection is a rational way of providing additional water supply. Capacities for collecting natural sediments can be installed above ground or buried( above ground or underground reservoirs).The simplest example of such a system is a summer shower, whose tank is located on the roof, where throughout the day the water is heated in the sun and becomes comfortable for use. A more advanced system of similar rainfall collection works similarly, but may additionally include cleaning filters.
Above-ground system, photo:
Above-ground tank is most often a near-wall option. Today, modern water storage tanks are made with an artistic approach, they are harmoniously combined with the architecture of the house, they look very attractive. Decorative rainwater collection tanks may look like an antique column or an amphora, so that at a glance you can not guess that this is actually a reservoir. The water inside it comes from drains, and the standard volume is 300-2000 liters.
Photo of the near-wall tank:
The amount of water collected depends significantly on the modification of the roof, the type of roofing. If the roof has a hip or pitched construction, then its angle of inclination will contribute to a better convergence of water to the gutters, drains. In addition, dirt accumulates on such roofs less, respectively - the water will be cleaner. The type of roofing also matters, for example, dust adheres to ordinary tiles less. Some types of roofing may emit chemicals that, along with precipitation, fall inside the rainwater collection tank — all these factors should be taken into account. On flat roofs with a minimum slope, water lasts longer( more dirt is collected), so an additional purchase of a filter to a storage tank will be relevant.
The quality of the water also depends on the material of the gutters, drains( metal products will increase the level of iron in the water), so that plastic analogues will become more appropriate. If the roof of your house is covered with asbestos slate, an exclusive copper tile or has lead parts, then it is better to refuse the idea of collecting rainfall. This rule also applies to gutters, drains. But clay tiles, galvanization, various types of plastic, shingles roof - on the contrary, it is quite appropriate, even able to maintain the purity of rainwater.
In general, it is desirable that the tanks are made of dense plastic( opaque polypropylene) - this is the best solution, because over time the metal will not be corrosion resistant. Simply put, the rainwater harvesting system from the roof is an above-ground tank located at the outlet of the drainpipe. There is a tap on this tank; when it is opened, water is released, sometimes a water pump is used. The tank itself is better placed in a shaded place so that the direct rays of the sun did not provoke the growth of algae, microorganisms inside. If you install a storage tank, do not forget about a possible excess of water. To avoid this, in the upper compartment of the tank equip the outlet, which is sent to the sewer or specially equipped groove.
There is another option for the arrangement of this system, which requires underground rainwater collection tanks. Such a tank will cost the owner a bit more expensive than the above-ground counterpart, the water pump will definitely be needed in this case, but at the same time additional advantages will appear. An underground tank or a tank installed in the basement will not take up space in the courtyard, there may be several tanks( small ones merge together).If you have a small plot with a house, then this option will suit you optimally. An important condition for the installation of an underground water catchment is a low level of occurrence of the aquifer. The layer of bulk earth above the tank should also not be more than 50 cm. The tanks for the underground catchment should be made of appropriate materials( as well as above ground).
Installing an underground tank, photo:
Rainwater collection system - nuances of arrangement
Installing a storage tank underground is also good because it will always be cool and the cold environment prevents the development of bacteria.
The process steps are as follows:
- The hole of the required depth and width is being dug. It should be slightly larger than the volume of the tank.
- At the bottom of the pit, sand is poured, approximately 20-30 cm( sand pad).
- Install the tank.
- Empty spaces between the walls of the tank and the pit are filled with sand.
- Installed pump, pipe.
- The top of the container is covered with a lid.
With the onset of the cold season, the pump is removed from the tank, cleaned, removed for storage. The tank lid is closed, filled with sand( or grated foam) to protect against freezing. As mentioned above, when underground installation of an accumulation tank should take into account the depth of the groundwater, as well as the degree of soil freezing in your area.
In any type of tank installation, precipitates should undergo elementary cleaning, so the presence of a filter or a very fine metal strainer will be relevant. A modern rainwater collection system includes a tank, level sensors, a pump, a float filter, a siphon. The pump must be installed on the surface of the water - so it will be supplied more clean. Whatever filters are installed, sediment on the bottom of the tank will necessarily form.
If you are thinking about a similar system, then the drainpipes themselves, as well as the places of transition from the gutters into the pipes, can be equipped in advance with fine meshes and grids. All of these items should be easy to clean as they get dirty. Rainwater collection is carried out using a pump. If you choose a centrifugal pump, then install it near the water storage tank, but as low as possible.
Remember that excess water means longer storage, additional cleaning methods. The selected tank volume should meet your needs - in order to avoid damage to the system, the development of bacteria, water should not stagnate. The filtration system should have a “dirty” filter at the entrance to the tank and another at the exit from it( ideally with activated carbon).Some storage tanks already have additional internal filters. Collecting rainwater on the site can be arranged with a creative approach, pick up all the elements of the system( including the roof) in the same style. Details of gutters, drains, accumulative tanks can also be made of one material. If everything is done in a single color combination, design, the system will look appropriate, harmonious.
With a practical approach to business, properly equipped rainwater harvesting for irrigation will protect your home from the accumulation of excessive moisture and soil blur near the foundation. The rainfall collection system is a rational invention for your comfort, safety of funds.
