Can one pipe straight into the attic tank from the gutter.

brokenarms

With all this talk of water costing money. Can I pipe rainwater into my attic tank to use in the toilets, bath and shower? DIY style . Without major work.

My tank is slightly higher than the gutter but only a few feet away.

Tails142

brokenarms wrote: »

With all this talk of water costing money. Can I pipe rainwater into my attic tank to use in the toilets, bath and shower? DIY style . Without major work.

My tank is slightly higher than the gutter but only a few feet away.

There was a dragons den idea about this, think cork county council ran a trial on their housing. Needed some modifications to the the roof gutters, would only be possible to take rain from a level above the tank also, otherwise you would need a pump which defeats the purpose

dharn

brokenarms wrote: »

With all this talk of water costing money. Can I pipe rainwater into my attic tank to use in the toilets, bath and shower? DIY style . Without major work.

My tank is slightly higher than the gutter but only a few feet away.

Probably but you would need to filter it I expect otherwise your overhead tank would get very dirty with bits of moss leaves etc

paddy147

brokenarms wrote: »

With all this talk of water costing money. Can I pipe rainwater into my attic tank to use in the toilets, bath and shower? DIY style . Without major work.

My tank is slightly higher than the gutter but only a few feet away.

NO...its needs to be fully filtered and sterilized...unless you and your family want serious skin infections and diseases.

Merch

what is the minimum level of treatment that is effective for

Toilets,

showering,

For washing clothes, other than filtering grit and suspended particles is there a need to go further regarding organisms?

If I ever get around to it, I think I'd start off with water for the toilets, for a start.

paddy147

Merch wrote: »

what is the minimum level of treatment that is effective for

Toilets,

showering,

For washing clothes, other than filtering grit and suspended particles is there a need to go further regarding organisms?

If I ever get around to it, I think I'd start off with water for the toilets, for a start.

At least 3 stage filtration process and then UV Sterilization process.

Unles you want infections/diseases through the skin.:(

paddy147

UV Sterilizer.

Bulb needs to be changed every 12 months.

Cedrus

You'd only be able to use it for toilets, but that could be a big saving considering the size of most toilet cisterns. You would need to filter it or bits will block the flush valve. If you don't filter/sterilise, be prepared for complaints about the colour and smell of the water (think algae and bird droppings on the roof). You will also need to separate the water tank & pipes as there is usually only a common dropper through the house, this might require a lot of builders work.

Merch

I was originally thinking of just filtering bathing water run off and run off from the roofs,collected in a tank and pumped back to a seperate tank through a filter (maybe a second stage)
Id definitely seperate the toilets supply from the cwst.

The cost of the UV units or their power usage would be a considering factor, so I may just go for filling toilet cisterns with run off that is not cleaned to the same level.

Does anyone know if any other form of sterilisiation necessary? (for toilets) to prevent any growth or smells? if only a filter was used and not a UV steriliser?
and
Would this be acceptable for washing machine use also?

Id plan on running a new length of qualpex to feed the toilets

I assume there must be a flow control device to ensure complete sterilisation through the UV steriliser?
or that the flow must be at a set amount prior to entering it.

Cedrus

Another thing to consider is the condition of your roof, any degradation of tiles is going to wash into your new water supply - old concrete tile tend to shed grit in heavy rain, if you live in a high road traffic area there will be petroleum/oil deposits, likewise for coal soot.

Merch

Cedrus wrote: »

Another thing to consider is the condition of your roof, any degradation of tiles is going to wash into your new water supply - old concrete tile tend to shed grit in heavy rain, if you live in a high road traffic area there will be petroleum/oil deposits, likewise for coal soot.

Thats why Im considering only collecting water for use in toilets, that way, I wont have to test for those things. Just ensure its filtered adequately.

grange mac

Merch wrote: »

Thats why Im considering only collecting water for use in toilets, that way, I wont have to test for those things. Just ensure its filtered adequately.

With all the rain we had you would also want something to stop it when tank fills or...

paddy147

grange mac wrote: »

With all the rain we had you would also want something to stop it when tank fills or...

Overflow pipe run out through roof (like normal) and down into a large 1000 litre IBC tank.

Great way to water the garden and plants. aswell.:)

Al Capwned

Brother's house is set in the side of a hill, and he has adapted his gutters on one side to feed a 1000l tank outside the house..
He has this directly plumbed into his two toilets (all very tidy, and relatively unnoticeable), and has ample water for flushing and for the garden.
(Him, wife, 3 small kids)

He has his own well, so the drinking water issue never came up.