Off-grid rain capture ....

Vortex · Post by **Vortex** » 14 Dec 2007, 10:00

A how-long-is-a-piece-of-string question:

Is it generally feasible to capture rain during the wet seasons and then store it in a pond or large tank, for use as your sole source of irrigation supply during the rest of the year?

(We have heavy clay so capturing and holding the rain should not be a problem)

Post by **clv101** » 14 Dec 2007, 10:09

Sure, it's done in many parts of the world. Typically in underground tanks I believe.

RogerCO · Post by **RogerCO** » 14 Dec 2007, 11:43

as in the excellent pair of French films from a few years ago- 'Jean de Florette' and 'Manon des sources'

Joules · Post by **Joules** » 14 Dec 2007, 11:46

The earthship people do it all the time http://www.earthship.net/

Joules · Post by **Joules** » 14 Dec 2007, 11:50

Better link here http://www.earthship.net/modules.php?na ... cle&sid=23

gug · Post by **gug** » 14 Dec 2007, 12:35

RogerCO wrote:as in the excellent pair of French films from a few years ago- 'Jean de Florette' and 'Manon des sources'

Excellent and highly recommended they were, but these were both about a spring, rather than storage.

</pointlessly pedantic nerd mode off>

Post by **adam2** » 14 Dec 2007, 15:16

Given sufficient storeage, the rain falling on the roof of the average house is generally adeqaute for domestic purposes, though it may not be fit for drinking.

Unless the house is much larger than average, then I doubt that roof capture would produce enough water for irrigation.

Capturing rain from outbuildings would of course help.

For irrigation some other water source is generally required, possibilites include wells and natural watercourses.

RogerCO · Post by **RogerCO** » 14 Dec 2007, 16:41

gug wrote:
RogerCO wrote:as in the excellent pair of French films from a few years ago- 'Jean de Florette' and 'Manon des sources'
Excellent and highly recommended they were, but these were both about a spring, rather than storage.

</pointlessly pedantic nerd mode off>

Deferring to your superior knowledge but my recollection was that there was a big concrete storage tank involved somehow
or something
Oddly I've still got them lying around on vhs although I gave up the vhs deck at the same time as the tv so can only check by holding them up to the light (which does not work, of course)
A little off topic, although at one level they were pertinent to potential post peak neighbourly water disputes...

gug · Post by **gug** » 14 Dec 2007, 17:38

RogerCO wrote:Deferring to your superior knowledge but my recollection was that there was a big concrete storage tank involved somehow
or something

Actually, I apologise. Whilst both of the films plots revolve around a blocked spring, there was of course, storage and a well that ran dry (IIRC).

plus the sight of poor old Depardui lugging water on a donkey !

Great films either way !

leroy · Post by **leroy** » 14 Dec 2007, 18:36

Yes, Manon des Sources. I remember hating every minute of French classes until Emmanuelle Beart walked into my life with her flock of mountain goats. Sorry, really off-topic this one.

Vortex · Post by **Vortex** » 14 Dec 2007, 19:15

Emmanuelle Beart

Just Google Imaged her .... sheesh ...

bobthebaker · Post by **bobthebaker** » 14 Dec 2007, 19:26

Oh dear now I'm thinking Betty Blue....

hardworkinghippy · Post by **hardworkinghippy** » 14 Dec 2007, 21:00

She's beautiful and she was on the telly the other night (no make up) talking about homeless people in Paris and came over really well.

The presenter asked her if she was concerned for the future of her actress "image" (her getting involved with poor people and stuff) and she gave him a great look that said F.O. then said every so sweetly "Non"

Anyway, water gathering. We live in France and we've had a bad drought in the summer here for the past four years. I mulch tons, we've got loads of goats so loads of material and I also save every drop of water I can from the roofs. I've got quite a big garden and this lot of containers have helped save a lot of lovely plants.

That's kept us going through the summer in the veg too, with the odd drop of lovely rain, but were on clay too and we've puddled a few little ponds to use for watering the garden for next year.

They're filling up nicely (even better when the roof's on the extension) and attract a lot of wildlife.

Vortex · Post by **Vortex** » 14 Dec 2007, 21:33

we've puddled a few little ponds

We need Planning Permission to do that here ..

contadino · Post by **contadino** » 16 Dec 2007, 16:36

We live off-grid for water. Our house has an underground water storage tank (100,000 ltr) which collects rain from the roof and the driveway in front of the house. This summer we had heatwave after heatwave (46?C at one point), with no rain from mid-June to late-Sept. We use water for domestic purposes, and for irrigation of our veg patch (we run a veggie box scheme).

The tank held out until late-August, and we had to get water deliveries to see us through until the rain came.

In Spring, we're going to be digging a 2nd underground tank of about 50,000 ltr, also for rainwater, fed from our 200m-long gently sloping driveway. Next year we'll be seeing how our water conservation techniques (including greywater reuse) hold out, and what they save us.

Here, open water sources suffer from many problems, such as attracting mossies, evaporation, and water theft, so they're covered ferrocement tanks.

So, yes. If it's possible to live like this here, it's eminently possible in the UK. I'd be very surprised if underground tanks require planning permission, unless they're connected to the same plumbing systems as mains water.