These have been up for about one year. I checked them recently for algae, etc. I found none. I am very pleased with the first flush and the black plastic. It is really working well.

Very nice design. I've done a similar system, but with 4 totes for a 3500 sq ft. house and a 40 x 20 greenhouse with a 3 stage filtering system for the household needs. My chicken house has a much smaller system, but they have all the water they need with an automatic watering and feeding system. Anything you can do to have less stress in your home or off grid system with, is what I have, and it can make life more relaxing and easy. Do your research. More time spent at the designing table means less time figuring it out at the install.

Wow.. I really appreciate you taking the time to make this video and shoot all the footage with good explanations of what is going on. I think the system is great and would be perfect for me. I have to make one of these in the next few months before winter and this has really helped. Thanks again!

Great video, thanks for sharing! That water bottle is a genius idea.

I found keeping the cap loose works better than drilling a 1/8" hole. Since this video I have made an overflow pipe that directs the water to my fence line away from my house. It is working great.

I use my Berkey water filter/purifier to filter the water as many other rainwater users do. It does a great job.

Never thought I'd say it, but I do miss Texas rainstorms. "Like a cow peein' on a flat rock," as someone so eloquently put it. Brlliant system, I'm very impressed. Keep on prepping!

I'm glad to hear the videos were helpful and that you built your system. That is awesome! I hope you are enjoying your Berkey as much as we are.

You might put a longer pipe on the bottom of your overflow to prevent the ground from getting to soft near the tank. That could cause the block its setting on to sink unevenly. Possibly leading to the tanks shifting. Just a thought, love the videos!

I have six stacked for over one year. No problems. They are solid. Just make sure your foundation is level and you are good.

Great DIY system. I just put in a system here in Thailand and was looking at how to keep everything clean. it is not as professional as yours but with your great tips, i will adjust and add in a first flush. Thank you for your vid and all the time you put in to share.

Absolutely fantastic! I was "totally riveted" watching this series. You are a star!

The bottle may actually cause a problem you didn't foresee. If there's enough rainwater coming down, and your first-flush fills up, bottle rises, plugs the 2" pipe above the first-flush, now you're going to have detritus overflowing straight into your horizontal tank line. The 4" → 2" → 4" is another issue you're going to want to deal with as well. You're limiting your capture to only about 28 gallons/minute, while moving to 3" pipe increases that capacity to 63 gallons/minute. Minor tweaks to the system will make a huge improvement. Great video and good luck!

Clear and explanatory, good design

Long time KZread member & all these videos were the best videos I `v seen on here period ! Thanks

Impressive. I've been looking into IBC tote harvesting for an off/minimal grid system. I'd suggest channeling your lower tote air vent into your overflow. That would allow good venting, but still channel all overflow through a common output. Well done.

Just wrapped my totes in black plastic. Thanks for saving me so much trial and error. Next step, building the line from the down pipes.

"Ruff"... man, that gets me every time XD. Great series man.

a couple of questions. 1. do you find that your tanks are sinking as you do not divert the run-off away from where the cinder blocks are? 2. if you have that many filters on the pipes how much debre get into the first flush tank? 3. would the plastic bottle block the pipe from letting more debre in to the first flush part?

Thank you so much for this series and sharing! I will use an almost exact system as yours on my Oklahoma property. I have no running water, so I MUST either haul in water from Talihina, which is eight miles away, or begin harvesting the wonderful Oklahoma rain.

I have watched many of these videos, and have learned some great ideas from yours. Thanks!

I might recommend that you dig a ditch in front of your blackberry patch and put in geotechnical fabric (straw bound with netting) and then pin it down (helps with erosion). Then... route your overflow to the ditch where it will slowly soak into the ground / patch. Then from there, overflow onto the grass. When berry's are fruiting they need more water. A good soak a few times will super produce berries

You are a genius. This is a very clever design. Thanks so much for sharing.

absolutely epic. thanks for taking the time to make this.

Simplify. Get rid of the overflow pipe you have and just tie the overflow in above the T that goes to the totes. When the totes are full, flow will be diverted away from the totes and through that overflow connection. Now route the overflow pipe, full size, not at a mere 2 inches, to the drain system that conducts water away from your foundation. For me that is a buried 4 inch drain pipe to a remote location with an adequate screen at the far end. The vent from the lower tote can be as simple as a connection teed into the top of the fill connection instead of an open end. It will vent fine until the top tote is full and then you will no longer care about it because both totes will be full. Both the changed vent path and the changed overflow require no screening at the terminal points because they are no longer open to the outside.

@XoshBitt

7 жыл бұрын

Great add on's thanks a lot!

@ChristopherJones16

Жыл бұрын

"in above the T that goes to the totes" so you mean the 2" T that is on top of his first flush pipes where the gutter is attached to? Thats the top of it... where the screen is. So youre saying to route his overflow pipe back to the top of the T opening with the screen? That will just overflow the two first-flush 4" pipes he has... I'm probably misunderstanding what youre saying but I think you need to be a bit more detailed on your already detailed response. My overflow is different.. My overflow is the other opening of the T that goes into the drum.. so once the drum fills up it comes back up through the 2" pipe Im using and out to the right opposite side of the T where the other side is the inlet from the first-flush. I thought his system was fine.. but he just needed to raise his air pipe higher because he put a level on the top of the two pipes not taking in consideration the one pipe is larger meaning the bottom of the larger overflow pipe is actually lower than the bottom of his air pipe. He shouldve put the level under the two pipes to really measure his height difference. This is why water was coming out of his air pipe. I dont even use an air pipe and my 55 gallon drums have been doing just fine these past three years.

Thx, Mr. LDSPrepper your videos are a blessing!

Thanks for this very detailed video series. I am seriously considering a rainwater harvesting system for my garden. We have a water softener system on our well due to extremely hard water. With the soft water comes an slight increase in sodium in the water, which is okay for humans, but not so much for plants over time. We have a leaf filter system on the gutter system on the house. So, I feel like I'm already half way there. This summer I am planning to work on the catchment system. In the mean time, I'll just have to bypass the water softener system when watering the garden plants. Thanks again for the excellent videos.

Great series of videos. I have rain barrels, but nothing like this...excellent job.

Very nice series on water collection, and I also printed the Texas water collection document to read. I appreciate the insights.

You have made a fantastic video, I love your insight thanks for your ideas !

We had a rain the other day that my system just could not handle. Even with 2 1/2 overflow it still was pushing water out the air vent. Great job on the videos.

Very well done. Thanks for the detailed videos and the link to the rainwater booklet.

Nice job it's good to see it all come together. Thanks for sharing

Wow, I am very impress! it seems you really take pride in everything you do, I been doing some research on rain water collection systems for a while and yours its truly the best I've seen, so more likely Im stilling your idea lol the only changes im going to make will be adding a concrete base foundation and spray painting the totes and probably leaving a 1/2 inch strip line on each tote without paint to be able to see what the water level is,

I enjoyed watching your clip. Your setup is nice.

You are very welcome. I'm glad you found this helpful.

Awesome. Thank you for taking this seriously.

pleasure to see well thought through system. and explanation is great. thanks.

thank you so much for sharing your videos and ideas with all of us! great job!!!

My 2 separate systems of four 275 gallon totes for each location (gardens) has been working for 2 years now. I did not stack my totes. I could have and I should have, but I didn't think of it. So thanks for the video. I will go ahead and stack one of the systems with 4 more totes as there is room to stack and there is need for plenty of water and I would like to have more water pressure if that happens. Good show!

I will definatly copy your first flush design when I hook up my gutters at the retreat. Very cool :) Blessings!

All 7 were great video's! Thanks

Thank you. Since this video I have the overflow piped away from the house. Good point.

Hello from Fresno-nice RWC system.

Kiss (keep it simple.........) cheap and made of only a few parts. Thanks for your time and effort, good job.

I hesitated to drill too. I did and it has worked flawlessly. I would recommend buying a 2" wide float valve and screwing it into the bottom container's top lid. That would allow it to vent but then seal when the water level reached the top. They cost about $50.

@Itaintnutn Thanks. I was going to go with 55 gallon drums but when I added up how much water I needed the the cost in 55 gallon drums the PVC and storage structure the 275 gallon totes just made sense for what I need.

very detailed... thanks also for the manual link

You have such a nice water collection system, very well planned out, I am jealous :)

Thank you for letting me know. I just updated the link. It should work now.

something to consider if you make another type system is, instead of using the black plastic wrap, use a roll on rubber bed liner product, used for pickup trucks to protect the beds, design to hold up to the sun's UV rays, water proof, sticks to the bed permanently,(Rhino liner). anyway just an idea, Best Wishes :)

@MrDavidelliottjr

4 жыл бұрын

That plastic is way cheaper then that stuff

@Den0Q Thanks. Great suggestion. I'm glad you have enjoyed the videos.

@joebuck49 That is why I went with 2" PVC instead of the 3/4" I see others using. My down spout is 2"x3" so I feel the 2" PVC will handle the volume. I'll find out when we have our first down pour.

Very nice set up.

@AnnBearForFreedom That is a very good description of our rainstorms. Powerful.

Thanks, I enjoy your videos!

Just in the one that is directly lined up with the 2" reducer. The one on the right.

Very impressive system. I was planning to use a ball on my flush system, but your idea of the water bottle is great. One note, and not a big deal: the white tie straps are not UV resistant and will become brittle and break eventually. Black tie straps are best for outdoor use.

very awesome system! thanks for sharing!

I use a plastic toilet tank float for my check valve. It is made of much tougher material (PVC) unlike the plastic bottle. You have a very good setup and have answered many questions I had. Unfortunately I have to deal with freezing temperatures during the winter. So my two totes will have to be enclosed. You answered my question regarding how to deal with excess water when the tanks are full. My current system spills water all over the tanks. They are not enclosed yet. Thanks for many answers.

Great video and design. Float system are over $100 at local markets. I think I can do it with $30 plus a plastic bottle. Thank you!! Very sorry for me not to watch this video 6 years ago.

Awesome. I look forward to seeing it.

Very good looking system.

@darthom Thank you for your comment on video 5. I love it.

@rchopp I'm glad you enjoyed it.

I live in an earthquake area (Washington state). If you stack these totes like this do you anchor them well enough? If you are prepping I would think almost anywhere would have the potential for earthquakes and then you loose your system right when you need it most. Also, would suggest making your foundation better. What I have found is that this much weight around this much water will cause everything to sink. Recommend 16"x16"x2" pads under the block to disperse the weight AND anyone have moles or gofers? I know they love my concrete supports everywhere in my yard. Thanks for the video. Starting to build mine tomorrow.

Great job LDS!

I hadn't considered using a first flush and after my barrel being totally contaminated, I'm glad I didn't hook all my barrels up. I used a nice inlet filter (I thought) to the barrel which was a pot with sand and gravel in it and some charcoal but it seems to have let all the smelly stuff like pollen through and now my water is yellow and smelly. I'm going to grab some pipe and build a first flush like this one. Great job!

@dgerps I'm glad you enjoyed them.

It costs a household £1 per day to use public water supplies in England, no matter what size family you have. My Mom pays the same money to the water company as the neighbours do, and they have 7 people living in the house. Could it be that my 83 year old Mum is subsidising other peoples water supply? Your system is very cost effective and eco friendly. Keep up the good work.

@DeltasigPrepper I hadn't thought of that. I could give it a try. Thanks.

Great job man!!!

Very good idea. a snorkel valve solution, for suspended solids.

Great job! Keep the videos coming.

@TheHossUSMC Thanks for commenting. I painted the pvc last Saturday.

Your system is genius.

Very nice setup.

Very neat and nice system

Great videos, I'm installing a system pretty much identical to this except i'll be just using 1 tank. anything that you would change with yours? how have your gutter guards been working out ? I have heard people say the glue comes off the screen and they buckle over time.

@MrRodahi My wife was commenting today with all the rain we are having we should have twenty water cubes to save all the water. This is the least expensive, easiest way I know of to capture rainwater and store it. Best of luck setting up yours.

@manaylor Yes, if I knew how. I don't plan on doing that. I want to make the best use of the water. I think it is more work but manually managing the water will give us the best use control.

Great idea this bottle.

Brilliant, thank you!

@dhk227 When it rains really hard here I check the flow. I have found the 2" to work great.

@dgerps I'm glad to share. Thanks for viewing.

Great video.

An old video but a very good video

We have never run out of water in the totes. We have not tried to conserve the water either. They have worked great in many Houston down pours.

Great job im going to use this system at our cabin :)

@LDSPrepper

4 жыл бұрын

Go for it!

Yes, unglued pipes will come apart. All of my pipes are glued except for the over flow. But I can easily remove the glued pipes to move the totes if needed, without damaging the pipes.

LDSPrepper, Great video. I have been trying to decide what kind of water storage container to use for my system. Your video has convinced me that these Totes is the way to go. You mentioned that you plan on using this water for drinking. I have read that may be a problem with some roofing materials. You seem to have Asphalt Shingles. Rain water may get some hydrocarbons and some other undesirable stuff into your storage. See Search for shared-source-initiaitve and biosand

@mainbearing68 Good thought. I hadn't thought about possible mildew on the wall. Thanks.

@1oldarmyguy Wow. That must have been quite a down pour. Good to know. Thanks for commenting.

What an amazing project! Congratulations on passing your first test of it with only one, relatively simple, "fix" needed for the air vent. I do, however, agree with Den0Q's suggested improvement to route the overflow away from the vicinity of your support blocks. With over a ton of weight resting on them, it seems prudent to do so.

really cool videos!

@WallyJ2K Hmm, good question. Please let me know how you get this to work. Of course you could simply put them side-by-side. You will only need one first flush system. Just pipe one tote to the next.

@haymaker1776 Thank you for viewing and commenting. I'm glad this was helpful.

for the bottle in your first flush diverter, to assist in the bottle going up straight, put sand in the bottle about 1/3 full and seal the bottle. will act as a bobber and move up more verticle

V informative Mr LDS 👍 Like your idea of no glue, allows adjustment. Also the 1st flush sump extension on the T to create a second 'leg'....I guess you could keep going and multiply up the sump capacity if not big enough. I saw a video that explained a ratio of roof area to 1st flush capacity but can't remember what it was. Can any reader assist?

@MrKatphish Thank you. And thank you for watching and commenting.