Collecting water off a roof to water sheep indoors

Connemara Farmer

I'm unsure about my plan at the moment. I had intended to collect rain water off the sheep tunnel cover, divert into a clean IBC tank and use to water the sheep inside.

I read since, here I think, Bord Bia don't allow that (something to do with bird droppings?) but there was no link to a BB document saying that, if someone has such a link could they post it for my own info please?

I don't see any issue with collecting water off the plastic cover myself, however I did buy untreated 2x1.5's and had to put Larsen Wood Preservative on them. Some or all of this rain water may run over that timber on it's way into the gutter, will that be a problem in terms of food chain and general health of the animals?

I intend to join Bord Bia at some stage probably over Winter, so will have a joining inspection then a regular one at 18 months intervals I believe.

Concrete answers please

gazahayes

Connemara Farmer wrote: »

I'm unsure about my plan at the moment. I had intended to collect rain water off the sheep tunnel cover, divert into a clean IBC tank and use to water the sheep inside.

I read since, here I think, Bord Bia don't allow that (something to do with bird droppings?) but there was no link to a BB document saying that, if someone has such a link could they post it for my own info please?

I don't see any issue with collecting water off the plastic cover myself, however I did buy untreated 2x1.5's and had to put Larsen Wood Preservative on them. Some or all of this rain water may run over that timber on it's way into the gutter, will that be a problem in terms of food chain and general health of the animals?

I intend to join Bord Bia at some stage probably over Winter, so will have a joining inspection then a regular one at 18 months intervals I believe.

Concrete answers please

Can't say about the board bia part but I used rainwater off sheeted roof sheds for sheep.
Putting up a tunnel this year and hoping to take rainwater from that.

Chalkitdowndiy

I don't think you can use rainwater in the way you suggest unless it is treated in some way.
Drinking water, as far as I know, is best obtained from wells or a public supply system.
One accepted standard is "BS8515:2009 - BSI British Standards - Rainwater Harvesting Systems - Code of Practice"

ChalkItDown

Birdnuts

Connemara Farmer wrote: »

.

, Bord Bia don't allow that (something to do with bird droppings?) but there was no link to a BB document saying that,

That sounds ridiculous - we water all our winter sucklers, and indoor lambers with roof water for most of the time. Never been a problem and all my neighbours do pretty much the same thing without any bother. Sounds like a very ill judged, petty requirement if true. I suppose you can rig up some sort of UV purification system to the holding thank if it becomes an issue

Green farmer

I was going to do a similiar thing to Con, off my house for washing car etc. Is there some type of uv light system you can use for treating water ? Also I was told to cover IBC tank in black plastic.

Chalkitdowndiy

Green farmer - that sounds good. There are UV systems as far as I know. Don't know of a supplier to recommend though. And I think covering the IBC in black is to prevent growth of bugs.

ChalkItDown

Birdnuts

Green farmer wrote: »

I was going to do a similiar thing to Con, off my house for washing car etc. Is there some type of uv light system you can use for treating water ? Also I was told to cover IBC tank in black plastic.

The link below suggests it could be easily done. Especially if you already have the collection,pump and tank system in place. Just a matter of getting a suitable UV filter and there appears to be lots to choose from so its simply a matter of picking one that suits ones set-up in terms of the quality of rainwater entering holding tank

http://www.moyloughconcrete.com/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=32

Green farmer

I saw a video on YouTube," rainwater first flush system", where guy uses IBC tanks and simple system to get clean water into tanks.

Connemara Farmer

I've emailed BB and asked them, no reply yet.

baoithe1

Connemara Farmer wrote: »

I'm unsure about my plan at the moment. I had intended to collect rain water off the sheep tunnel cover, divert into a clean IBC tank and use to water the sheep inside.

I read since, here I think, Bord Bia don't allow that (something to do with bird droppings?) but there was no link to a BB document saying that, if someone has such a link could they post it for my own info please?

I don't see any issue with collecting water off the plastic cover myself, however I did buy untreated 2x1.5's and had to put Larsen Wood Preservative on them. Some or all of this rain water may run over that timber on it's way into the gutter, will that be a problem in terms of food chain and general health of the animals?

I intend to join Bord Bia at some stage probably over Winter, so will have a joining inspection then a regular one at 18 months intervals I believe.

Concrete answers please

Off topic Connemara Farmer but how is the Sheep Tunnel going for you and where did you source? I am considering purchasing one in the next month.

Connemara Farmer

baoithe1 wrote: »

Off topic Connemara Farmer but how is the Sheep Tunnel going for you and where did you source? I am considering purchasing one in the next month.

It's not in action yet.

Bought it off this man http://www.gardenpolytunnels.ie/ not sure if they show the sheep tunnel on that site, if not look for John Manning polytunnel on youTube and he has lots of vids on there.

Found John great to deal with, never failed to answer phone, a question, or ring me back. We had a mix up with covers and within 10 seconds of me explaining the issue he had it sorted out way beyond what I had expected, so I was delighted with that.

Connemara Farmer

Bord Bia emailed me back today, the person I was in contact with talked to one of their auditors and said collecting water off a roof isn't a problem.

gazahayes

Connemara Farmer wrote: »

Bord Bia emailed me back today, the person I was in contact with talked to one of their auditors and said collecting water off a roof isn't a problem.

You may print that out so you have it in writing.

Lano Lynn

wouldn't have thought BB could have a problem with rainwater after all isn't that what makes irish lamb so sweet and succulent!!!:rolleyes:

DarByrne1980

Connemara Farmer wrote: »

Bord Bia emailed me back today, the person I was in contact with talked to one of their auditors and said collecting water off a roof isn't a problem.

Thanks for lettin us know. Weve always watered animals with rainwater collected from roofs of da sheds. Wudnt use it if it was lying in the barrel for ages but in the winter theres enough rain that if your barrels or collectors have an overflow there wont be a problem wid stagnation or anything.

Connemara Farmer

gazahayes wrote: »

You may print that out so you have it in writing.

Oh yes I intend to keep that email alright.

Lano Lynn wrote: »

wouldn't have thought BB could have a problem with rainwater after all isn't that what makes irish lamb so sweet and succulent!!!:rolleyes:

Don't remind me, seriously, don't............. :pac:

James esq

On average 10000 liters (1 tonne) falls on every square meter on land in Ireland every year.

This is about a ton per square yard per year.

Pm me for more details of this calculation

Nekarsulm

do we really get 36 inches average rainfall per year? zfor some resson I thougjt it was about 20 inches?

A quick google shows that you are quite correct!

Green farmer

James esq wrote: »

On average 10000 liters (1 tonne) falls on every square meter on land in Ireland every year.

This is about a ton per square yard per year.

Pm me for more details of this calculation

Just shows you how much water could possibly be collected from a shed roof !

Connemara Farmer

James esq wrote: »

On average 10000 liters (1 tonne) falls on every square meter on land in Ireland every year.

This is about a ton per square yard per year.

Pm me for more details of this calculation

Teagasc had some type of a rainfall calculation somewhere, I think it was in their drainage manual. I think for my fenced land it has to get rid of 77 billion litres of water a year! Maybe I went wrong somewhere in those calcs I must find it again.

Don't think I'll be short in an average March/April either way.

_Brian

Chalkitdowndiy wrote: »

I don't think you can use rainwater in the way you suggest unless it is treated in some way.
Drinking water, as far as I know, is best obtained from wells or a public supply system.
One accepted standard is "BS8515:2009 - BSI British Standards - Rainwater Harvesting Systems - Code of Practice"

ChalkItDown

Been feeding drinkers in slatted shed for yonks from roof water. Maybe sheep are different. At a guess it's over 15 yers with no problems.

Wooly Admirer

Our sucklers when housed have access to a tank that fills from the mains and a tank that fills with rainwater - they'll line up for the rainwater tank when its raining! I keep the other one clean as a whistle, but its always second choice. Strange, guess its cooler or something...

James esq

I'd say rain water is much cleaner than ground sourced water, especially where there are a lot of animals around, lots of ecoli gets washed into the ground, one of the main reasons why water has to be treated, while roofs are very clean lots of exposure to ultaviolet radiation which light which zaps the bacteria in bird droppings.

Kevin McCloud

Wooly Admirer wrote: »

Our sucklers when housed have access to a tank that fills from the mains and a tank that fills with rainwater - they'll line up for the rainwater tank when its raining! I keep the other one clean as a whistle, but its always second choice. Strange, guess its cooler or something...

Could be because they dont like the smell off the mains water.