Omega Owners Forum

Chat Area => General Discussion Area => Topic started by: Debs. on 14 July 2010, 19:09:53

Title: Harvesting Water.
Post by: Debs. on 14 July 2010, 19:09:53
Like many with private water supplies; my water-well has dried up and I`m short of water at the moment (following an unusually prolonged drought).....so, watching the 'occasional' shower going to waste, I set up a rainwater harvesting arrangement to gather water from the house guttering and pump 25 metres it upto the storage tanks for subsequent filtration and U.V sterilisation.
This measure has been an absolute lifesaver and with a few daily rain showers, it`s been producing a surprising amount of water.

Go me thinking how much rainwater run-off must be wasted in the U.K. rather than going into reservoirs.
With lots of people on water-board restrictions in the N.W of England (and surely other regions soon to follow) why can`t we use canals to move water about the country to where it`s needed.


(http://i274.photobucket.com/albums/jj241/CleverCollies/Sumpy-Pumpy.jpg)

(http://i274.photobucket.com/albums/jj241/CleverCollies/DSCF7305Large.jpg)
Title: Re: Harvesting Water.
Post by: tunnie on 14 July 2010, 19:15:14
impressive stuff Debs, with the amount of land you have there must be a lot of water harvesting potential?
Title: Re: Harvesting Water.
Post by: Kevin Wood on 14 July 2010, 19:15:57
Ingenious; a "butt pump" :o ::) :-[

I've been meaning to do the same for flusing loos, car washing, etc. as we're on a meter and the tap water is a bit hard for washing cars.

Currently, the water butt is kept from overflowing by the Karcher cleaning bits of Westfield. ::)

Kevin
Title: Re: Harvesting Water.
Post by: hoofing it on 14 July 2010, 19:30:46
Just think debs it wasn't that long ago you had to dig yourself out. :o
Title: Re: Harvesting Water.
Post by: tidla on 14 July 2010, 19:33:15
Quote
impressive stuff Debs, with the amount of land you have there must be a lot of water harvesting potential?

next door neighbour(father) has had a digger the back garden doing water service pipework.the garden  has a slight slope to it.

during excavation, clay channels/pipes angled across the garden were found.

these originally were apparently drain off gullys in which water would find its way into, collect and drain off.

Title: Re: Harvesting Water.
Post by: Jimbob on 14 July 2010, 19:38:09
love the ingenuity!

if only you had put some plastic sheeting down in the winter and kept all that snow  ;D
Title: Re: Harvesting Water.
Post by: Gaffers on 14 July 2010, 19:38:28
When I finally get around to building my own house in Hawaii I am planning a system where all the run off is captured and used for toilet flushing and washing machines.  Then making sure that phospherous soaps are used, capture the grey water from the sinks, shower/bath/washing machine to use it to water the garden.  The sewer stuff has to go though, local regulations do not allow me to treat it in a septic tank and return the water to the land.  Shame.
Title: Re: Harvesting Water.
Post by: tunnie on 14 July 2010, 20:02:19
Quote
Quote
impressive stuff Debs, with the amount of land you have there must be a lot of water harvesting potential?

next door neighbour(father) has had a digger the back garden doing water service pipework.the garden  has a slight slope to it.

during excavation, clay channels/pipes angled across the garden were found.

these originally were apparently drain off gullys in which water would find its way into, collect and drain off.


Thats what i thought Debs could do, guess there is a lot of time/expense in that, but should pay itself back? Maybe great you own mini-reservoir Debs  :)
Title: Re: Harvesting Water.
Post by: Gaffers on 14 July 2010, 20:23:46
If Debs puts a few extension hoses to either Bala or Llanberis lakes she could have all the water she wanted!  ;D ;D
Title: Re: Harvesting Water.
Post by: cem_devecioglu on 14 July 2010, 20:29:07
brilliant :y
Title: Re: Harvesting Water.
Post by: Varche on 14 July 2010, 20:57:07
Good for you Debs. It is truly shocking that there are ever water shortages in Britain. We were only talking about this today. Unfortunately planning for a new network, national grid and more efficient use of water never happened. Part of the problem was the privatisation of the water companies. In Cyprus(Greek part) they have a three tap system . The third is for water for flushing loos and hosing down patios etc. Other two are drinking water and hot water. Now what a good idea!

33 deg C here and sufficient water and it hasn't rained for weeks!
Title: Re: Harvesting Water.
Post by: webby23 on 14 July 2010, 21:16:58
Still short of water Debs.........??

Its precipitating it down here.........

 ;D ;D ;D ;D :y
Title: Re: Harvesting Water.
Post by: Plomien on 15 July 2010, 09:12:55
I have a drive to Liverpool today i will hook some rain clouds to the towbar and bring them up to you Debs  ;D ;)
Title: Re: Harvesting Water.
Post by: Field Marshal Dr. Opti on 15 July 2010, 13:52:27
I've just found an old well on our land.....After six years. :-[ :-[......I'll post some piccies... :-* :-*
Title: Re: Harvesting Water.
Post by: Debs. on 15 July 2010, 14:03:56
Quote
I've just found an old well on our land.....After six years. :-[ :-[......I'll post some piccies... :-* :-*

Yes please! :y

Might be worth clearing it out and getting it producing; lovely soft-water, great for laundry and car washing. :y

Title: Re: Harvesting Water.
Post by: Varche on 15 July 2010, 14:34:11
You could come to some arrangement with the local water company to sell them any surplus - bit like you can with surplus generated electric ;D ;D ;D
Title: Re: Harvesting Water.
Post by: 2woody on 15 July 2010, 14:48:46
we don't have mains water and rely on a spring all the time.

nice not having water rates, tho.
Title: Re: Harvesting Water.
Post by: Varche on 15 July 2010, 17:07:05
We have mains water via our village co operative. Lovely stuff for about 70 houses. Including maintenance, testing etc it costs us each about £70 a year. Each year we have a meeting to set the price of water and elect officials. We also have a well so best of both worlds.