Rainwater Collection

Rainwater Collection is a useful way to reduce our dependency on ground water and will save money over time for those having to irrigate with expensive municipal water. Also, it seems in years to come, clean water is going to be a scarce resource. Collecting rain water allows us to slow the water down, store it until needed for use in the landscape before being released back into the aquifer. Abundant Edible Landscapes can help you design your system, and install it. We have a variety of parts that make rainwater collection effective, for many uses. To see one of our systems you can visit Indigo Green Store, Satchel's Pizza, or check out the photo gallery.

Rain Harvesting Systems

This guide will hopefully help you to understand how our systems work.  Whether we have recently installed a rain harvesting system for you or you’re interested in the possibility of having one installed, this guide will explain the main working parts and also help you understand how the system needs to be maintained.  The diagram above should help you make the connection between our written explanation and the physical system itself.
Initial Considerations:

1. There are above ground tanks and below ground tanks
2. There are polyethylene tanks, concrete tanks, fiberglass tanks, metal tanks, bladder tanks and so on.
3. The tanks vary greatly in shape, size, cost and overall appearance.
4. The tanks can be precast or constructed on site.
5. We have found our 1650 gallon polyethylene, above ground, precast tanks to be the most cost effective per gallon and simplest to install and care for.
6. While gravity fed systems and solar pumps for the tanks are options, there are more factors to consider and can require more maintenance.  We will work with clients on these options.

We’ll start with how it works.  We typically stick to using rainwater for irrigation.  Connecting water to any indoor plumbing can be extremely costly, due to filtration requirements, codes, and existing plumbing.  The first thing to consider is your water sources.  We typically have two sources of water for irrigation.  One is water from your water meter or your well and the other is your harvested rainwater.  We want to maximize the amount of rainwater you use, but we also realize water storage is generally the limiting factor and sometimes the tanks will go dry.  That’s why we need both sources of water.  Basically, check valves (for preventing back pressure from both sources of water) are installed on both sides of the solenoid valves (automatic valves connecting to your irrigation zones,11.) to allow you to switch from the rainwater to city water, when the rainwater tanks go dry.

Now we’ll move to the original source of water for your rainwater system.  Placement of your storage tanks (1.) in relationship to your gutter downspouts is very important.  The cost of the pipe running from your downspouts to your tank can become very pricy.  Starting at each downspout a leaf eater gutter screen (3.) is installed.  These gutter screens are the first in the filtration process.  At this point three or four inch pipe (depending on how much potential water will be flowing through this downspout) is connected directly to the gutter screen.
All water sources (downspouts) at this point will be tied together by running large pipe underground and connecting them.  The water will all lead to one main pipe that will be split into multiple smaller pipes, which will then carry the water to your tank/s.  A site tube will be installed, so you can see the water level at all times. 

Once the tanks are filling with water, a submersible pump will be installed.  The pump will draw the water from a floating filter (This ensures that the pump is not drawing water from the bottom of the tank where any sediment could possibly be building up.).  The water will then flow through the check valve that was previously discussed and then into the irrigation mainline.  The pump will be wired to a pump start relay that will connect to a power source, the irrigation timer (This timer will automate your irrigation system and also be interlinked with the pump, so when your irrigation comes on, your pump kicks on) and a float shut-off (This float is installed to ensure the pump does not come on if the tank is dry).  An overflow will be installed to ensure that any excess water is directed to an appropriate place.  Also a flush (a T, with a threaded plug that will allow you flush out any potential build-up in the main pipe) will be installed at the lowest possible point. 

A backflow preventer (prevents water from the irrigation lines from flowing back into your drinking water lines) will be installed between either the city/well water source.  There are two valves on the backflow.  One is on the irrigation side and one is on the city/well water side.  The valve on the irrigation side will be your on/off switch for the city/well water.  When you want to use the tank, you would close this valve.  When you want to use city/well water, you will open it.  Again, a check valve will be installed to prevent back pressure on the backflow preventer. 
The tank/s will be installed on a (recycled concrete fines) platform.  All above ground pvc exposed to sunlight will be painted.

 

Maintenance

            *Maintaining this system should be pretty simple.  The main thing to remember is switching between your sources of water.  So I will repeat this part.  There are two valves on the backflow.  One is on the irrigation side and one is on the city/well water side.  The valve on the irrigation side will be your on/off switch for the city/well water.  When you want to use the tank, you would close this valve.  When you want to use city/well water, you will open it.  Again, a check valve will be installed to prevent back pressure on the backflow preventer and the pump.  You can check the site tube to find out where the water level is in the tank.

            *Check your gutter screens periodically for leaves and pine needles.  These screens are specifically designed to let leaves run off the face of the collector, but they aren’t perfect.

            *Every couple of years you can expose the flush and unscrew the plug, to flush the main pipes out.  This will clear most of any potential build-up in the pipes.

            *Because of the way the system is set up, you should rarely need to clean out the tank/s.  By rarely, I mean maybe five or ten years.        

Rainwater Collection

A Rainwater Collection Consultation-

Have one of our specialists come out to your property and advise you on ways you can collect water. We'll give you an estimate on an installation cost. Or you can save by doing it yourself with some guidance from one of our specialists. We'll deliver all the parts and guide you through the process step by step. We only do consultations in the Gainesville, FL area. For more information email us at ediblelandscapers@gmail.com.

- $50/hour for the first hour and $22/hour for any additional hours. The first hours consultation fee will be reimbursed with an installation of $200 or more.

Consultation

I hour $50.00

 

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