How rainwater helps gardeners: tap vs rainwater.

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What is rainwater and the properties of pure rainwater? Rainwater is a form of precipitation. The source of rainwater is moisture that evaporates from the surface of moistened soil and water bodies. The water mass formed in the earth's atmosphere is huge. For example, a single rain cloud may contain about several tons of water. The cloud does not stand still, but constantly changes its location relative to the surface of the earth. When moving in space, the cloud redistributes not only heat and moisture, but also a wide variety of chemical elements, salt and dust.

The main properties of rainwater

Rain water is perfectly absorbed by the human body, as it contains a minimal amount of harmful impurities that can somehow affect human health. Thanks to rainwater, optimal moisture is maintained in the skin of each of us, dryness and irritation are eliminated.

The composition of rainwater - what is it today?

Rainwater useful only  in case it is clean. However, today, due to the difficult environmental situation around the world, it is difficult to guess whether warm summer rain, which we often wait up to several weeks or an autumn drizzle that can soak our clothes in a matter of seconds, is dangerous. What is today's drop of rainwater? Ecology leaves much to be desired, especially in economically developed countries, where one metropolis with a dozen industries replaces another with its industrial zones and enterprises. A drop of rain water, for example, having a mass of only 50 grams, “manages” to wash about 16 liters of air during the flight from the cloud to the ground! And one liter of rainwater can absorb and "diversify" its composition with impurities contained in three thousand liters of air mass. Therefore, from all of the above, one thing is clear - the composition of rainwater largely depends on the environmental conditions of the place where the cloud formed. If, within the atmosphere, compounds such as sulfur or nitrogen react with rainwater, then at first glance the harmless rain becomes a real acid rain. Therefore, at the moment, in connection with the current environmental situation, almost every rain can be safely called "acid". Of course, many scientists and doctors are inclined to believe that rainwater does not bring any benefits to health and the body as a whole. Many do not even risk washing clothes or washing themselves with rainwater, not just adding them to food. In some countries and regions where industry is developed, rainwater may be more polluted in composition than wastewater. Air and, consequently, rainwater pollution occurs due to the work of industrial and agricultural enterprises, as well as vehicles, the activity of enterprises and transport supplies to the atmosphere oxides of nitrogen and sulfur, carbon monoxide, compounds of mercury, arsenic, lead, chemicals, pesticides and many other dangerous substances, the list of which is almost endless. All elements enter the atmosphere, and then, together with the rain masses, they again fall back to Earth and this process never stops.

But is there any benefit in water?

Of course, if you close your eyes to the ecology and the possibility of pollution of rainwater, then you can still benefit from this liquid. Our ancestors considered rainwater to be a real “elixir of youth” - women washed their face with water from heaven, and thus rejuvenated the skin of their faces and bodies. It was believed that rainwater favorably affects the hair and its structure. Hair should be rinsed with rainwater, after which they became very soft and silky, lush and shiny.

Rain helps our skin maintain a balanced water balance, eliminates excessive dryness, thereby eliminating small wrinkles. If you live in an ecologically clean place, you can safely wash yourself with rain water. Water can be collected in a non-metallic container, and then washed with it in the morning and evening. Changes in the skin can already be observed after several weeks of water procedures - the skin becomes more youthful, supple, radiant and velvety. It will be nice to take a walk in the summer rain, get a lot of positive emotions and a great mood.

The use of precipitation will provide significant savings in water produced from a well or a well. In addition, it will help reduce energy consumption, since it allows less frequent switching on of pumping equipment. However, you do not know how to collect a free “gift” of nature for further use?

We will show you how to do this. The article considers the rainwater harvesting system and rainfall application options for domestic use. The device is described, design specifics, efficiency is estimated taking into account the spent funds on the organization of alternative water supply.

For interested visitors, we selected organization diagrams with an underground and above-ground location of the tank, presented photos with options for masking the storage capacity, and collected useful videos that allow you to organize water collection on your own.

With reserves of fresh water in Russia, everything is in order, however, the most economic owners of private land have increasingly begun to think about the rational use of natural resources.

Absolutely safe and modern, the most convenient for DIY installation.

Step # 2 - selection of water collectors and reservoirs

Precipitation falls irregularly; therefore, there are no devices without a “transshipment base” that directly connect the trays to the draw-off points. It is necessary to organize a large container for storing collected water, which will allow its use only as needed.

An ordinary barrel was the prototype of all modern tanks. It can now be found in summer cottages, installed directly under the drainpipe.

The efficiency of using a barrel is conditional, since it has a small volume and is not suitable for water supply at home. In addition, overflow systems are not planned in its design, all surplus spills over the edges and enters the ground.

The purpose of an ordinary metal or wooden barrel is to collect a small amount of rainwater with subsequent use for household purposes: for irrigation or harvesting

Volumetric tanks are made for water storage systems, which can be divided into two categories:

• groundinstalled under the gutter system against the wall (or inside the building);
• undergroundburied in the ground near the house.

The material for all types is the same - it is polyethylene, more rarely concrete, fiberglass or steel. Synthetic rainwater drives are leading, because they are not inferior in characteristics to analogues from other materials, at the same time they are much lighter, and therefore more convenient for transportation and installation.

The volume of ground tanks - from 750 to 2000 liters, underground - from 2000 to 5000 liters.

Modern products are completely ready for connection - they have a large hatch in the upper part and a fitting with a crane in the lower one (for ground versions)

Large underground tanks are equipped with surface or for forced movement of water to the points of drawoff. The use of various equipment requires additional liquid purification. For this, a filtration system is used: a coarse filter is installed at the inlet to the tank, and the same at the outlet.

Options for plastic tanks for collecting and storing rainwater:

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The compact capacity decorated "under a stone"

If water enters the sinks for washing or washing dishes, fine filters with a mesh of no more than 5 microns, as well as multi-stage coal plants, are required.

Step # 3 - organization of the drainage system

Suppose your private home is equipped with a full rainfall, including a set of gutters and trays, drainpipes, sand traps and a sewer outlet to.

Is it possible to install a structure for using rainwater in a house without major changes? Of course, but it will be necessary to supplement the scheme with storage capacity and related equipment.

First you have to analyze the state of the accumulating plane, that is, the roof. You should check its integrity, cleanliness, and if necessary, change the roofing to a safer one.

If the storm construction of pipes and trays is in order, you can attach a large prefabricated polyethylene tank directly to it. At the bottom of the tank, install a fitting - for emergency drain.

In order not to disrupt the design of the storm, it is easiest to install a volumetric plastic barrel for irrigation, but it will not work for house maintenance

If there is a need to install a large underground tank, you will have to make adjustments to the old structure - most likely, change the location of the sewer pipes. Digging out the pit and installing pumping equipment, it is necessary to re-lay the communications for drains.

We offer two types of rainwater utilization systems - with a ground and underground reservoir.

Simple barrel device

To assemble the lightest circuit, you need a kit for installing gutters, a filter, a finished water tank, a short hose and mounting hardware.

The result of the work will be the simplest system for collecting water from a sloping roof with a large plastic reservoir as a storage tank

We purchase plastic gutters, trays and pipes of the required size in a hardware store. If plastic does not suit you, we use galvanized steel parts, home-made or factory-made.

We collect the drainage system in the following order:

• using special brackets or hooks we fix along the edge of the roof of the gutter;
• at the corner, in a place convenient for the installation of the tank, we suspend a drainpipe;
• we connect the main elements with a receiving funnel;
• we seal seams and joints.

The assembly of factory models is good in that all the necessary parts and even part of the tools are included with the container.

Scheme of the device system with an underground tank

A large tank installed near the house will be able to satisfy the need for water by 50%. Thanks to the special wiring, rainwater will flow to the points of water intake that do not require high-quality liquids: to toilet tanks, kitchen and watering taps. But in this case, filters are installed.

The tank can be installed under on the surface, in the basement or in a pit dug near the house. We will choose the third option, in which the tank will be completely immersed in the ground, therefore, it will not occupy an empty area near the building and does not spoil the beautiful landscape with its technological appearance.

Another advantage of a tank buried in the soil: chilled rainwater is an unsuitable environment for the development of bacteria, therefore, it will not “bloom”

We select a container with a volume of 2.5-3.5 thousand liters, and, based on its dimensions, we are looking for a place for installation. In addition to the dimensions when digging a pit, we necessarily take into account the horizons of groundwater and the level of freezing.

The depth of the pit should be about 70 cm greater than the height of the tank, since 20 cm is a gravel-sand cushion, 50 cm is a layer of earth above the reservoir (freezing in the middle lane and northern regions in winter).

• we get the soil, we take the excess to the side;
• arrange a gravel-sand rammed pillow;
• install a tank in the center of the pit;
• we fill it on all sides with a mixture of soil and sand;
• install pumping equipment and pipes (downpipes and leading to the house).

Of course, before connecting electrical equipment, it is necessary to establish a system for supplying water from the roof and do it. Gutters are installed in the traditional way, the pipe through the hatch delivers water to the tank.

Piping from the reservoir leads to certain pre-selected points. Inside the house, in the back room or in the basement, there is a place for installing a pump, filters, monitoring equipment.

Scheme of using the rainwater harvesting system: 1 - water level sensor; 2 - float device; 3 - filter; 4 - surface pump; 5 - a tank of water; 6 - siphon; 7 - filter

After installation and connection, it is necessary to carry out a test start: pour into the water tank and turn on the pump. If everything is in order, the liquid will quickly flow to the points of tapping.

The container should not be empty, as soil movements can cause deformation of the body. If the water runs out during a drought, it must be filled from the main source. In order not to measure the water level using improvised means, you can draw a kind of scale with divisions in shares or liters on the inside of the wall.

Rainwater in the heating system

In some cases, rainwater is used instead of distilled liquid or antifreeze in heating systems of private houses.

Natural characteristics - softness, lack of impurities and cleanliness - make it suitable for pouring into the heating network. To remove possible contaminants “caught” in the atmosphere, it is initially driven through a filter.

Option to install a storage tank inside the house (in a boiler, basement or utility room): a pump, filters, pressure gauge and piping are located nearby

In addition to cleaning procedures, enrichment of the liquid with special inhibitors and surfactants helps reduce the tendency of water to form corrosion and plaque. Chemical compounds contribute to the dissolution of calcareous and other deposits.

Conclusions and useful video on the topic

Educational informational videos will help you independently install a storage tank for collecting rainwater.

Video # 1. How to make a do-it-yourself rainwater collection system with an external tank:

Video # 2. Useful theoretical information:

Video # 3. Preparation of a plastic barrel for autonomous water supply:

The purity and natural softness of rainwater make it possible to use it for domestic household needs, irrigation, and sometimes to fill the heating system. Thanks to the large storage tank and pump, you can always use the backup water source that is relevant during the emptying of the well.

If you have interesting information, valuable recommendations, or your own experience in designing a system built to collect rainwater, please leave comments. To place them below the text of the article, a block form is open.

The comfort of suburban life largely depends on communications, including an autonomous water supply system. Typically, water is taken from a well or a well located on the territory of a suburban area, but sometimes this water is not enough, and additional, backup sources must be found. One of them is collecting rainwater from the roof of a house, bathhouse or utility room.

Benefits of Using Rainwater

If a country house is a permanent place of residence of a person, then to serve his needs about 130-160 liters of clean water are needed every day. A large amount of liquid goes to watering flower beds, beds, lawn. It becomes clear why rainwater will never be superfluous.

Recall summer souls in the country. In a large tank raised above the ground, water accumulates. Under the sun, it heats up and becomes comfortable to use on a hot day. If you slightly modify the primitive water supply system, you can get water supply not only for the soul, but also for the entire country house.

Rainwater harvesting systems: 1 - water level sensor; 2 - float filter; 3 - control over the water level; 4 - centrifugal pump; 5 - capacity made of polyethylene; 6 - siphon; 7 - filter

Is the water collected after rain suitable for washing or even showering? Of course! In its chemical composition, it is much milder and safer than city tap water. A sufficient amount of oxygen in the composition makes it ideal for watering plants. Only in one case, precipitation can be harmful - if there is an industrial enterprise or a big city nearby.

Attention! Water collected after rain cannot be used for drinking or cooking. It is suitable only for technical needs - washing, cleaning, watering, washing the car. Or it must be passed through a serious cleaning system.

One of the advantages of rain collection is that it requires virtually no investment: you only need to spend one day on installing the tank and laying pipes. The only negative is the dependence on the amount of precipitation. In a dry summer, you do not have to rely on an additional source.

When installing the storage tank, do not forget about insurance against excess water. In the upper part of the tank, make a drain leading to the sewer, through which the excess flows

Choosing the right roof for the system

Not every building or house is suitable for collecting water, since the roof configuration and roofing material affect the quality of the liquid. Flat roofs are recommended to be immediately excluded for two reasons:

• rainwater is devoid of natural discharge;

water stagnates on the roof surface in the form of puddles, which are a hotbed of bacteria.

On any sloping roof, a water collection system can be equipped with a structure assembled from gutters, downspouts, connectors and fasteners

Thus, a rainwater collection system is installed on buildings with a gable or gable roof with a certain slope, the best option is from 10 ° or more. On a steep roof, water flows much faster, therefore, it does not have time to get dirty.

Attention! Some roofing materials contain substances harmful to human health - copper, lead, asbestos. Do not collect water from roofs covered with asbestos slate or copper tiles. Gutters and drains containing copper or lead are also excluded.

Modern modular gutters made of plastic are absolutely safe, in addition, they not only serve to collect water, but also are a decorative element of the building

Clay tiles, galvanized metal and modified plastic, from which modern gutters are made, will keep rainwater clean. Relatively safe and bituminous coatings.

Installation of a water collection system

In order for water from the roof to fall into the pipes, and from them to the points of disassembly in the house and outside, it is necessary to consider a system in which the initial accumulation and subsequent wiring are provided. The main components of the system are storage and plumbing.

Installation of storage tank

A water collection tank is needed to maintain the proper level of fluid in the system. As a rainwater storage tank, any tank made of safe material can be used: concrete, polyethylene, galvanized steel. The main property of the material for the production of the drive is stability, it should not dissolve in water and change its chemical composition.

Installing a storage tank on the ground near the house has two advantages: you do not need to dig a special pit and you can use water for irrigation without using a pump

A rainwater collection tank installed in the ground is the best option from an aesthetic point of view. Moreover, the water in the cold earth will never "bloom"

There are several ways to install a storage tank:

• install directly under the drainpipes on the surface of the earth;
• bury in the ground near the house;
• arrange in a basement or utility room.

The preferred option is to place the tank in the ground, as the coolness inhibits the development of microorganisms. But two points must be taken into account: the level of soil freezing and the level of groundwater location. If all conditions are satisfactory, it is necessary to select the capacity. It is better to stay on a large volume (2-3 thousand liters), so that there is always a supply.

The drive is installed according to the following algorithm:

• We tear out the pit. Its dimensions should be slightly larger than the dimensions of the drive.
• At the bottom of the pit, we arrange a sand cushion 20 cm thick.
• Lower the water tank.
• We fill the voids on all sides of the tank with sand.
• We install pipes and a pump.
• Close the neck of the tank with a lid.

When colds come, it is worth taking care of the safety of the system until the next season. The pump should be removed, cleaned and stored in a warm room, and the lid of the container should be tightly sealed and covered with a thick layer of sand from above, thereby protecting it from freezing.

Instead of one large reservoir, several containers can be placed in the ground, interconnected by pipes. Having thought over the water filtration system, it is possible to arrange additional cleaning

Plumbing device

In order for water to flow from the drain into the tank, and from it into the house, it is necessary to lay a pipeline. Standard PVC outdoor products are great. Water flows naturally from the roof into the tank, since it is lower, but it is forced to enter the house, that is, by means of a pump. If a centrifugal pump is used, its installation location should be near the storage tank - as low as possible.

A small submersible pump is also suitable.

Attention! Installing the pump on the surface of the water ensures its cleanliness, since sediment accumulates over time at the bottom of the tank.

Proper equipment care

To use rainwater in the house, it must be at least clean, therefore, an infrequent, but mandatory supervision of the system is required. For example, it should be protected from debris and dust that accumulate on the roof, rain drains falling into the storage tank. The first rain after a long drought serves as a kind of "sink" for the roof and gutters. Dirt along with the first streams of water rushes from the roof into the gutters and pipes, so the water inlet leading to the tank, for a while you just need to disconnect. After about an hour, clean water will go - the pipe can be returned to its place.

Many modern gutters are initially equipped with devices for delaying large debris: nets with small cells that are located along the gutters and at the junction with pipes

Also, for cleaning water from large debris and leaves throughout the system, coarse filters are installed in the form of gratings and mesh baskets. As clogged, filters must be cleaned.

By installing a rainwater collection system in a country house, you will receive an additional source of water, and this is another step towards a comfortable life.