If you are not used to taking water to your job site, how about shaving time off your work? Connect up to your van or truck instead of looking for water sources & know that that your pre-collected water is good to go for your WFP, without continual testing for tds. Below are a couple of pieces that may just get you started before graduating on to bigger tanks. There are a variety of resources on the web - a previous blog here, contains some good links.
The videos at the foot of the page will give you even more ideas, an additional pump could push your water through filters if you needed, straight into your water tank installed in your van or truck. Gravity alone could also do the same job & pass it through DI resin with your water already being much softer than normal tap water. Many report readings of 0.00 - 0.10 from a downpour. Just remember to use your divertor into your collection system after the roof has had a good wash.
The videos at the foot of the page will give you even more ideas, an additional pump could push your water through filters if you needed, straight into your water tank installed in your van or truck. Gravity alone could also do the same job & pass it through DI resin with your water already being much softer than normal tap water. Many report readings of 0.00 - 0.10 from a downpour. Just remember to use your divertor into your collection system after the roof has had a good wash.
Also see here & here.
Rain Barrel Sale Encourages Environmental Altruism: The Naperville Park District and Conservation Foundation collaborate in honor of Earth Day. What's mosquito proof, saves you money and helps the environment? To commemorate Earth Day on April 22, the Naperville Park District has partnered with the Conservation Foundation to offer 55-gallon rain barrels at a discounted price to those who order by April 13.
"The average 1,000-square-foot roof sheds approximately 623 gallons of water during a one-inch rainfall," said Peggy Pelkonen, project manager for the Naperville Park District. Multiply that number by thousands of homes in any given area and the amount of rainwater entering our sewer system is staggering. But it isn't just water swelling our ponds and streams. It's the chemicals we apply to our lawns and gardens, pet waste from our yards, oil in our streets and driveways and all forms of debris that find their way into these waterways, compromising the quality and safety of our water.
Harvesting that water with rain barrels provides an inexpensive way for homeowners to not only keep money in their pockets but to help on an environmental level. No part is too small, particularly when it comes to protecting an invaluable natural resource. "People are starting to understand the importance of rain barrels," Pelkonen said. "Keeping water from entering the sewer system is an easy way for people to contribute to using our natural resources in an efficient way." She adds that since the press release went out announcing the program last week, 67 rain barrels have been reserved and many more requests are expected before the inaugural program ends.
Approximately 40 percent of household water usage during the summer months is for the benefit of lawns and plants in the home landscape, according to the Conservation Foundation. By adding a few rain barrels to downspouts, homeowners can cut their water dependency. Unlike treated tap water, rainwater is chlorine free and loaded with minerals that are vital to plant health and perfect for more delicate plants. The naturally softened water is ideal for washing cars, watering houseplants, window washing, cleaning outdoor furniture and decreasing demand for water during the hottest times of the year. This all spells savings on the monthly water bill. And as water costs rise, it's one more incentive to think a little greener.
Rain barrels are available in three colors - terracotta, grey and black. For those conservationists who wish to draw attention to it, the barrels are paintable, says Pelkonen. Rain barrels are available for $70 and can be pre-ordered online at www.napervilleparks.org, by phone at (630) 848-5000 or in person at the Park District Administration Building at 320 W. Jackson Avenue. The barrels will be available for pick-up on Saturday, April 16 from 9 a.m. until noon at the administration building.
The rain barrel program is one of several initiatives of the park district as it moves toward a more sustainable environment that promotes awareness and preserves the integrity of our natural resources. Among them the installation of two pervious parking lots, bioswales for the filtration of storm water, shoreline stabilization of retention basins using native plants and construction of a cistern to harvest and contain rain water at Knoch Knolls Park for the irrigation of ball fields. "[Water conservation] is painless, easy and it helps so much," Pelkonen said. "It's just so important to replenish our water table."
Rain as a Resource: How to Build a Rain Barrel - Editor's note: It is legal to harvest rainwater from roofs in San Juan Capistrano as long as the water is kept in a container that keeps mosquitos out. (Please check your local law - regarding capturing rainwater, in some States it is illegal).
After weeks of sunny weather, we're reminded that it's still winter in Southern California. There's rain in the forecast for this weekend, which means it's still worth your while to build a rainwater harvesting cistern, or rain barrel. Harvesting rainwater reduces storm water runoff, putting less stress on our public water infrastructure. It also provides high-quality irrigation water for your garden, lowering your water bill.
Devote an hour or two of your time in the next few days to build this rain barrel and you'll be ready to "harvest" this weekend. Here's what you'll need:
- one 55-gallon food-grade barrel (These are available at feed stores or online.)
- one bulkhead set (Ask for it at your local aquarium supply.)
- one brass garden faucet (Available at your local hardware store.)
- one piece of mesh or window screen
- one PVC elbow fitting, optional (Available at your local hardware store.)
- silicone adhesive for sealing
Directions:
- Purchase a clean, 55-gallon food-grade plastic barrel. Do not reuse a used barrel or one you retrieved from the dump.
- Cut a hole the size of your downspout into the top of the barrel or lid. A hole or saber saw will do the trick.
- Using the silicone adhesive, affix a piece of mesh or window screen over the hole in the lid to prevent debris or critters from falling in. If you need it, you can attach a 45-degree elbow to the end of your downspout to reach your barrel.
- Unscrew the bulkhead and place the threaded stem against the outside barrel about 4 to 6 inches above the ground.
- Trace around the stem and cut out the traced hole.
- Place one of the rubber gaskets on the stem and push it through the hole so that the base stem and rubber gasket are still on the inside of the barrel. The stem should fit snugly.
- Slide the second gasket onto the stem that is now protruding out from the barrel. Next, screw the washer onto the stem.
- Tighten it down against the gasket, but avoid overtightening. You can now thread the brass garden faucet into the bulkhead and affix a hose.
- Apply silicone adhesive to the areas around the bulkhead that you think water might still leak from.
- Position the barrel under your downspout and do a rain dance!
NOTE: The bulkhead thread size will determine what size faucet can be inserted. Faucets have thread sizes that can be made larger or small with adapter pieces found in hardware stores.
How much rain can you catch? According to the rainwater harvesting rule of thumb, you can collect 600 gallons of water per inch of rain falling on a 1,000-square foot catchment area. In this case, the catchment area would be your roof, and your rain gutters would siphon that volume into your barrel. Again, you're using a 55-gallon barrel here, so you'll fill up on a light or moderate rainfall event.
Is your roof bigger than 1,000 square feet? Use this simple calculation to find out your maximum roof runoff in gallons. Take the square footage of your roof and multiply by feet of rain expected for the event (convert from inches by dividing by 12), then multiply by 7.48 gallons per feet cubed to figure out your harvest potential.
No comments:
Post a Comment