Rainwater Harvesting - Use For Animal Drinking & Spraying

[Kidds]

If you are going to use an IBC I would strongly advise getting a black one. The clear ones grow one heck of a crop of multicoloured algae.

 

[neilo]

Why not just put a non return valve in line in the pipe before the ball valve?

I had an inspection from Severn Trent a couple of weeks ago, who spied the 10000L tank I was about to fit up for rainwater harvesting. Obviously that got his interest, so he duly gave me lots of advice.

Non-return valves are a big no-no, as they might fail/leak. Even disconnecting the existing pipework temporarily, if I chose to utilise it in the sheds, wasn't acceptable.
A round overflow from the rainwater tank was seriously frowned upon, as a ball float could break off and block the overflow, then the water could rise above the open ball valve. He wanted to cut a rectangular hole in the tank with an angle grinder, above the overflow but below any ballcock, as a failsafe. All I could see was loads of dust & bugs getting into the water though.

I've put one of these in as a mains backup. Crazy money compared to a standard ball valve, but I wouldn't be surprised if I got a 'random' follow up inspection after his visit.
http://www.kiwikit.co.uk/rain-aid-valve/
To be fair, it appears to work well, topping the water level up to just over a sprayer tankful, and usually turned off to maximise room for rainwater. Flow is fast enough for my little set up.

 

[dannewhouse]

hows anyone going on with a rainwater system in this freeze?

I'm just having to pour a bucket of hot water over 4 ballcocks on full mains troughs (pipes come under floor and up to trough)

 

[Exfarmer]

I was surprised when touring Australia how many outlying properties were fed from rainwater systems, with no treatment for washing and drinking water. This applied to properties offering accommodation to tourists etc. I would have thought there would be serious health implications particularly as the water in external tanks was never cold, which seemingly would be an ideal opportunity for bacteria to breed.
The owners were quite unfazed by the implications.

 

[suffolksmallholder]

hows anyone going on with a rainwater system in this freeze?

I'm just having to pour a bucket of hot water over 4 ballcocks on full mains troughs (pipes come under floor and up to trough)

All my outside water is frozen solid. The 'outside' are inside the loose-boxes, lagged & in plastic to hopefully no bursts. The rainwater system is just a giant lollypop! Again in plastic so no bursts (I hope) Minus 6 to 8 so far.
SS

 

[dannewhouse]

All my outside water is frozen solid. The 'outside' are inside the loose-boxes, lagged & in plastic to hopefully no bursts. The rainwater system is just a giant lollypop! Again in plastic so no bursts (I hope) Minus 6 to 8 so far.
SS

how are you getting water to stock then?
ever thought of them electric wire things for pipes under insulation?

 

[suffolksmallholder]

how are you getting water to stock then?
ever thought of them electric wire things for pipes under insulation?

The 'old fashioned' way......a bucket from the kitchen tap! This has happened twice in a decade with minus 6 being the point when the drinkers freeze. I have looked at the wrapped heating wire & if this happened every winter I would fit just this BUT it is not high on my agenda as we are ok most of the time. Thanks for your concern though. Hope you're ok in your area?
SS

 

[dannewhouse]

The 'old fashioned' way......a bucket from the kitchen tap! This has happened twice in a decade with minus 6 being the point when the drinkers freeze. I have looked at the wrapped heating wire & if this happened every winter I would fit just this BUT it is not high on my agenda as we are ok most of the time. Thanks for your concern though. Hope you're ok in your area?
SS

ye were not so bad, some are going on about how good the council have been gritting etc, I think they were a bit late starting and seem to knock of at 9am till about 4!

as for water troughs 1 bucket of hot water has got the lot going on a morning, then at dinner and night I throw a couple of buckets out of them to get them a good flow going. but my pipes come straight up under shed so no long lengths of pipe to thaw. I am debating a bit on insulation around the pipe comeing up but I think it will make no difference as its the nipple and the 90 bend that I think feeze any way.

 

[renewablejohn]

Stream has kept flowing although surface of stream frozen over. Collection pipe buried in stream and 15mm pipe off it has remained flowing. Will be doing more continuous flow troughs in the future.

 

[Paddington]

Must get some lagging around water butts in the barn for next year, normally OK down to -3C or so, but we've had it a lot colder this year. Wondered about foam rubber sheets, any ideas ?

 

[RJB]

I was surprised when touring Australia how many outlying properties were fed from rainwater systems, with no treatment for washing and drinking water. This applied to properties offering accommodation to tourists etc. I would have thought there would be serious health implications particularly as the water in external tanks was never cold, which seemingly would be an ideal opportunity for bacteria to breed.
The owners were quite unfazed by the implications.

We have 4 x 5000 gallon tanks and a couple of smaller ones that keep us in water, we have never had any issues with the water quality as generally the bottom of the tanks collect any crud and of course it’s important to keep a strainer in place to stop frogs and things getting in to the tanks. The water tastes better than town water and as for the weather here we regally hit 40+ but our water is always cool. As I grew up in Cheshire it was a change to my thinking but I would always have a tank to collect water if only for drinking, do not be scared off, a 5000 gallon tank would be a great addition to any property if you have the space,

 

[pauld]

I have water collection trough off roof and a mains water trough in the cattle yard as back up. No complicated plumbing for topping up and the cows always drink the rainwater in preference to the mains.

 

[Tarw Coch]

I have water collection trough off roof and a mains water trough in the cattle yard as back up. No complicated plumbing for topping up and the cows always drink the rainwater in preference to the mains.

Same here, big concrete troughs for rainwater, with overflow into drains, nice and simple.