The presence of water in the country is an integral factor in comfortable living, as well as the full provision of plants with life-giving moisture. The collection of rainwater for watering the garden, the garden is the rational use of natural resources, even if you have an autonomous water supply system on your site. Rain water 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 flush the toilet, but it is unsuitable 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 summer cottage is located near factories or near a large city, then the chemical composition of the precipitation may contain harmful impurities.
How to collect rainwater?
The easiest way to collect rainwater is containers placed under drainpipes. So that the tanks do not lose their qualities over time, they must be made of reliable materials (polyethylene, ceramics, concrete, fiberglass). There is usually a damper on top of such a tank so that foliage or other dirt does not get inside. If necessary, the damper opens or closes manually. The volume of the tank may be different - this factor depends on the area of the site, your needs.
An old, proven over the years option - a well for collecting rainwater. To this day, it has been successfully used by 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 openings are taken into account in advance. You can also use ready-made concrete rings that are installed on top of each other. In the modern design, the wells are equipped with a lid, nets, grids for trapping debris, a submersible pump, sometimes the so-called emergency overflow is installed.
Well, photo:
Tanks for collecting rainwater
Rainwater harvesting is a rational way to provide additional water supply. Tanks for collecting natural precipitation can be installed above the ground or buried (above ground or underground tanks). The simplest example of such a system is an outdoor shower, the tank of which is located on the roof, where throughout the day the water is heated in the sun, it becomes comfortable to use. A more advanced system for such rainfall collection works similarly, but may additionally include purification filters.
Elevated system, photo:
Above ground capacity is most often a 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 containers for collecting rainwater may look like an antique column or amphora, so that at first glance you can not guess that this is actually a reservoir. Water inside it comes from the gutters, and the standard volume is 300-2000 liters.
Photo of the wall tank:
The amount of water collected substantially depends on the roof modification, type of roofing. If the roof has a hip or pitched structure, 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 roof also matters, for example, dust adheres less to ordinary tiles. Some types of roofing can emit chemicals that, together with precipitation, enter the tank to collect rainwater - all these factors should be considered. On flat roofs with a minimal slope, the water lingers longer (more dirt is collected), so the additional purchase of a filter to the storage tank will be relevant.
Water quality also depends on the material of the gutters, gutters (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, exclusive copper tiles or has lead parts, then it is better to abandon the idea of collecting rainfall. This rule also applies to gutters, drains. But clay tiles, galvanizing, various types of plastic, bitumen roofing tiles - on the contrary, are quite appropriate, even able to maintain the purity of rainwater.
In general, it is desirable that the tanks be made of dense plastic (opaque polypropylene) - this is the best solution, because over time the metal will not succumb to corrosion. Simply put, the system for collecting water from the roof is an above-ground tank located at the outlet of the drainpipe. There is a tap on this tank, when it opens, water comes out, sometimes a water pump is used. The tank itself will be better placed in a shaded place so that the direct rays of the sun do not provoke the growth of algae, microorganisms inside. If you are installing a storage tank, do not forget about a possible surplus of water. To prevent this from happening, an outlet is equipped in the upper compartment of the tank, which is sent to the sewer or specially equipped groove.
There is another option for equipping this system where underground tanks are required for collecting rainwater. Such a tank will cost the owner a little more than the above-ground analogue, a water pump in this case will definitely be required, but at the same time additional advantages will appear. Buried underground or installed in the basement, the tank will not take up space in the yard, there may be several tanks themselves (small ones are interconnected). If you have a small plot with a house, then this option is best for you. An important condition for the installation of an underground 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. Tanks for underground catchment should be made of appropriate materials (as well as aboveground).
Installation of an underground tank, photo:
Rainwater harvesting system - nuances of arrangement
Installing a storage tank underground is additionally good because it will always be cool, and a cold environment prevents the development of bacteria.
The process steps are as follows:
- Digging a hole of the required depth and width. It should be slightly larger than the volume of the tank.
- Sand is poured at the bottom of the pit, about 20-30 cm (sand cushion).
- A tank is installed.
- The empty spaces between the walls of the tank and the pit are covered with sand.
- A pump, pipes are installed.
- The top of the container is closed by a lid.
With the onset of the cold season, the pump is removed from the tank, cleaned, cleaned for storage. The lid of the tank is closed, filled with sand (or grated foam) to protect against freezing. As mentioned above, when installing the storage tank underground, you should take into account the depth of groundwater, as well as the degree of freezing of soil in your region.
For any type of tank installation, precipitation must be elementary cleaned, 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, and a siphon. The pump must be installed on the surface of the water - so it will be delivered more clean. No matter what filters are installed, sediment will form at the bottom of the tank.
If you are thinking about such a system, then the drainpipes themselves, as well as the places of transition into them from the gutters, can be equipped in advance with fine-mesh nets, gratings. All of these elements should be easily cleaned as they become dirty. Rainwater drainage is carried out using a pump. If you choose a centrifugal pump, then install it next to the water storage tank, but as low as possible.
Remember that excess water means longer storage, additional cleaning methods. The selected tank volume should suit 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 inlet of the tank and one more at the outlet of it (ideally, with activated carbon). Some storage tanks already have additional internal filters. The collection of 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, storage 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, a properly arranged collection of rainwater for irrigation will protect your home from accumulation of excess moisture and soil erosion near the foundation. The rainfall collection system is a rational invention for your comfort and safety of funds.