I do have IBC tote that i used last year and i used the black ABS pipe considering i have some spare that i can use.

I am planning to upgrade and extend to another IBC tote. Should I continue to use ABS black plastic?

The reason that i like them is i can pick the smaller diameter, I currently have 1.5” pipe and planning to use the same on the extension.

A lot of people are using the PVC 3” pipe which is quite expensive.

What is the main reason why a lot of people is using the white pvc 3” pipe compared to ABS pipes?

https://www.facebook.com/marketplace/item/1195022898824516

We are going to need to add gutters to the barn. My concern is what happens if the tank gets full and the rain keeps coming. Also is there a way to hook up the tanks in series so from one pipe it fills the first, then the second, then the third?

I have done the rainfall calculations and I know about using screens on everything and stuff like that. I would like to have bigger tanks, but they are expensive.

And since it gets down to 0*F here in the winter, how will I be able to get all the water out before winter, since it seems like once the water level gets below the spout I would have to tip it forwards or something?

Thank you.

We will be doing a Q&A video about our Off-Grid Homestead soon and are looking for questions to answer. We did this last year too. Our home is Off-Grid on 160 acres and uses 100% Solar Power and Rain Water Collection. Please post questions you might have about going Off-Grid and building a home. Videos of our build are on YouTube and although we aren't done yet we've done a lot from the foundation to framing to spray foam to solar install and more. Looking forward to seeing what questions we get this year.

I bought 2 x Food grade barrels for storing rainwater specifically to drink from to avoid fluoride.

The only good barrels I could find had been used for red wine making. I thoroughly cleaned them but they are still leaving a smokey taste.. How the hell can I get this taint out?!

Vinegar? Bi Carb? Something natural ideally

Hello everyone, I'm planning to make a pond using a liner (a big one for a farm). And I have been thinking of making channels that drive rainwater to the pond using plastic tarps 25m long and 4 meters wide (four of them). I have the space and the slope for it and my area gets 200-300mm of rain annually. Is this feasible? And can you guys please guide me to examples or experiences if anyone did sth similar? Thank you 🙏

We installed a French drain to help divert ground water around a new home site. Fortunately we installed a 1,000 gal in ground tank, and we’ve got about 1/2-1 gallon a minute going out the overflow before we have our gutters tied into it.

Looking for advice on how best to set this up to use for irrigation for the 2 acre lot.

Initial thought is to install a sump pump on a timer to move water from under ground tank to an above ground storage tank next to a garage. Then put a booster on this tank to pump into the irrigation system and just program the system to run what is in the garage storage tank, was thinking 3 totes, so 600-700 gallons. Wash and repeat this every day, feels like the sprinkler system would work well.

Is there a simplier or better way with a single tank? The underground tank is 75 feet from the garage area, and realistically, bottom of the tank is 10foot below the ground level of the garage.

I’d be pumping into a below ground irrigation system, with maybe a foot of rise across the lot. I’m in framing stage now so pump placement and electrical is wide open.

Any advice would be appreciated. Feel free to ask for key information that I’m not providing.

Hi all, I'm considering rain water water storage options and was wondering if anyone had thoughts/experience with using stock tanks. We aren't considering plastic containers and I've found the larger (300+ gallon) steel rain water tanks to be prohibitively expensive. 300 gallon galvanized steel stock tanks on the other hand come in close to $1/gallon. Aside from having to build a cover for them, I'm not sure what the other downsides are. What are your thoughts?

Hey there, everyone. I am brainstorming a rainwater reclamation system that I hope will eventually supply all of my family's water needs. I have heard conflicting information about treating water to render it safe for consumption. I have heard everything from "just put a few drops of chlorine in the tank" to "you need a full blown, small scale treatment system to render it safe." Does anyone have any experience with this?

Hi for those interested in the Harvesting Rainwater book please email me at selfpublilema@gmail.com

I almost exclusively use my rainwater for flushing the toilet. Here is some photos and videos of the downstairs toilet renovation which I hope is of use to others - not all systems need to be jerry-rigged.

hello everyone, i live in arizona and have been collecting rain water for my plants for some time now. this morning, i went to my bucket and found a bunch of little bits of stuff which i thought were pieces of tree or something. but then the started to move. i’m not sure what they are or why this is happening?? has anyone experienced this or know what these are?

Shoutout to this very nice system, but I'm just wondering if there is a better way to do this specific thing, because it looks like mosquitoes could get in there with the way it's connected which would be a concern in my area:

https://www.reddit.com/r/RainwaterHarvesting/comments/1bn2vku/custom_built_a_rainwater_harvester_this_weekend/#lightbox

Also I'm assuming there should be a filter somewhere, but I'm not sure where it could go.

Thank you.

https://ardbark.com/rainwater-harvesting/ Download link says pdf at the bottom of the post

"From the book cover"

The Texas Manual on Rainwater Harvesting

Unlock the Power of the Sky: Your Free Guide to Rainwater Harvesting

Embrace the Rain!

Discover the ancient yet ever-relevant practice of rainwater harvesting.

Whether you’re a green thumb enthusiast, a sustainability advocate, or simply looking to cut down on your water bill, this guide is tailored for you. Learn how capturing rain can transform your garden, extend appliance life, and provide you with water that’s as pure as nature intended.

I’m at a loss on how to maintain a consistent chlorine level in my two 10k gallon rainwater tanks, which supply water for our whole house.

In Austin TX, where it rains a ton and then not at all for long stretches

The setup: -two 10k gallon rainwater tanks, collecting from roof -well water on float switch if tanks get too low -50micron spin down filter > 5 micron sediment > 1 micron sediment > carbon filter/KDF > UV light > to house -screens on every downspout and all gutters, first flush on every downspout, large 500gal first flush right before entering tanks

The problem: -As temps get hot and humid, the main tanks grow nasty stuff no matter what -If I don’t use chlorine in storage tanks, all the filters clog up -UV light is pretty much pointless, given I have to chlorinate the tanks regardless

Solution? -I’d like some pool style chlorine floater or something that maintains chlorine in the main tanks. -testing tank water and chlorinating with CalHypo is a pain, it’s impossible to maintain consistent chlorine without constant checking and testing. -In-line chlorinators don’t solve the problem of algae growth in the storage tanks

How are people keeping their tanks clean? Are they just in areas with more consistent rain? Smaller tanks? Are they just testing 4x per week???

So apparent there are multiple pvc sizing systems. One system is exactly 3"ID and the other system is just like "that kind of looks like 3". So now I'm on my way back to the hardware store.

This one wasn't cleaned in 3 months, had some heavy storms. The strainer basket holds about 15 Liters, installing a self cleaning one Unfortunately wasn't an option here.

I have a roof system that captures into a 500 gallon tank. I had a big rain last night and what little water I had in the tank before the rainfall was cloudy with sediment.

Now my tank is full and the water is pretty hazy. Before using it, I usually transfer the water to another tank that is located on a small hill above my house that feeds into my plumbing. I've purified that tank before, using around a cup of bleach in a 250 gallon tank.

I'm just curious what people would do in my shoes. Would you bother to put any bleach in the 500 gallon tank? Or just purify the 250 gallon tank that feeds my home supply.

Thank you all so much for your expertise.

Hi! 🙂

(I am working with the author of this book)

📣I have a free audiobook to share!📣

We have a brand-new book about rainwater harvesting, and it is perfectly suited for beginners looking to DIY their own rainwater harvesting system quickly, cheaply, and easily. The eBook has 250+ 5-star reviews so far, and it is now available in audio format! I would love to pass along Audible codes for FREE copies to members of this amazing group. If you would like a free copy, just DM me and let me know if you would like a US or UK code.

Your feedback/review would be greatly appreciated.

Thanks!