Catch, Filter And Save Rainwater

Catch Filter And Save Rainwater FARM HOME Miscellaneous Bill Smith has mineral-free water in his shop thanks to his rain water catch system that includes homemade rain gutters a swimming pool water filter and water tanks outside and inside the shop “Rainwater is naturally soft so it doesn’t leave mineral deposits when you wash vehicles ” says Smith of Delanson N Y who operates a swimming pool service and repair business “I also use rainwater with my pressure washer and when cleaning out client’s pool filters ” Smith sliced a notch down lengths of 4-in pvc pipe and attached them to the eaves of his garage with U-brackets Water flows off the roof into the pipes to a 1 1/2-in drop pipe The drop pipe is plumbed into the bottom of a 10-in dia 3 1/2-ft tall pool filter “The water that comes out of the filter is free of minerals down to 2 micron size particles ” says Smith “The filter design traps any roof refuse such as dirt pine needles shingle particles or roofing nails They collect in the outside chamber of the filter while clean water flows through the filter ” Filtered water flows by gravity into a 300-gal holding tank A 1 hp swimming pool pump transfers the water to multiple locations One of them is a 500-gal tank in Smith’s shop While algae can develop in the outside tank the larger tank inside the shop is out of the sun and remains algae-free Smith notes that a 1/2-in rain on his garage roof is more than enough to fill both tanks “The only negative with the filtration is having to mount it above the collection tank ” says Smith “I need to climb a ladder to service it ”

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