Rainwater Harvesting

reilig

I'm coming to the end of my self build and thinking about water connections and the likes.

I really want to know if anyone has installed a rainwater harvesting system or has researched them?

Can you give me a run down on how it works? What's the water pressure like from it?

What brand did you install and approximately how much did it cost???

I hope to contact ome suppliers in the coming weeks, so I would like to know what I am talking about when talking to them.

Any information that you could give me would be welcome.

Thanks

Dan

Graaaaa

A friend of mine installed a filter on his downpipe, the underground tank and the pump for it as part of an extension. I'll post details later if I can dig them out.
Your question on pressure:
The rainwater is pumped from the underground tank to either your primary cold water tank in the attic, with some clever arrangement of valves and controls to make sure the tank is filled from the rainwater not the potable water unless the underground tank is empty.
From there it feeds your cisterns, washing machine etc. It's just like the usual cold water tank feed, so there is no pressure issue - pressure is only a problem associated with a poor supply to your drinking water tap (i.e. the kitchen.) from your local water scheme or local authority watermain.

cabrales

I'm also considering installing a rainwater harvesting system as part of a big renovation in my house. I'd be very interested to know from people who has installed one. Any issues, things that could be done better, etc
Thanks

mickdw

I always advise people doing new builds to install rainwater harvesting. most dont go with it due to cost towards the end of the build but many do as a minimum take seperate water supply connections to attic to allow recycled water be easily used in future.

For example, you if plumb your bathroom with same supply going to cistern and cold tap & bath etc, you cannot easily in future use reycled water for toilet cistern only. A little thought a construction stage can make fitting in future very simple.

Johnniep

Graaaaa wrote: »

The rainwater is pumped from the underground tank to either your primary cold water tank in the attic, with some clever arrangement of valves and controls to make sure the tank is filled from the rainwater not the potable water unless the underground tank is empty.

Just a point, you would normally connect the harvesting tank to a seperate header tank in the attic space to avoid cross-contamination with mains water!