Rain Water Collection System Video

Rain Water Collection System Explained at our off-grid property. Here’s a short video about our simple water system. It’s a work in progress and nothing fancy right now.  Once the Cabin is done we’ll put a 12volt pump in to push water up the hill to a large tank. We’ll probably just use the pump when there is lots of sun hitting the solar panels so the batteries don’t get drained too much.  Then we’ll have lots more water pressure that’s available on demand with a turn of the tap, gravity is pretty reliable. At least so I hear.


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12 Responses

  1. thephnompen says:

    I just stumbled on to this blog and its a good read. I have to say however that I had no idea that some US states have outlawed rain collection?!!!! That is possibly the most retarded thing I have ever heard of ? What next ? an air tax ? I would gladly go to jail to stick my nose up at that rule !

  2. relaxshax says:

    Just make sure you screen the water from the gutter output, or at the collection bung/entry, or you’ll clog things up REAL quick, and end up with nothing but rancid pine-tea…..otherwise, you’re good to go. I used to make and sell rainbarrels for years and years, but now everyone and their mother owns a rainbarrel-making business, so its just not worth it (aside from building your own for yourself, as you’re doing!).
    Best of luck with the future work on the cabin!
    -Deek http://www.relaxshacks.com

  3. No we haven’t done much besides disconnecting the hose. We get lots of snow up there too. The water barrel has been fine. Just flexes I guess.

    Did you see the photos of the snow crushing the yurt? Go to the older posts. The snow violently crushed our yurt.

  4. RDLong70 says:

    You guys are further North than me (TN here). Have you put any thoughts into preventing the water and lines from freezing this winter?

  5. seeve says:

    good video! i hope to one day live off just rainwater……..

  6. Ed Davies says:

    Yes, anybody can make web sites; it’s having something to take photos of that makes things credible. It’s been a bit frustrating looking for a site from the other end of Britain so the scheme is to sell my current house and move to temporary accommodation while I search. I thought I’d sold it the other week but it turned out the purchasers couldn’t get a mortgage. In the meantime, I’ve been playing with SketchUp so a few pics from that should follow in a shortly.

  7. Thanks for the link Ed. I checked out your site, lots of good content but where are the photos? 🙂 Short attention span over here…

  8. Ed Davies says:

    Rainwater harvesting was illegal in Colorado but was made legal last year:

    http://www.nytimes.com/2009/06/29/us/29rain.html

  9. I think many communities are beginning to recognize how smart it is to collect rain water and encourage it. One of my readers from British Columbia lives in a place that actually permits it as an alternative to drilling wells. Hopefully more places will clue into this simple logic.

    The only draw back, if you can call it that, is that (rain water collection + composting toilets + grey water systems + off-grid power) would eliminate virtually reason for declaring land unbuildable. In other words there are simple sustainable ways of dealing with waste and utilities that would make it possible to live virtually anywhere. Hmmmm?

    The other states that have prohibited it in the past were Colorado and Utah. I’m not sure what the current status on those two are but I know folks in Colorado have been pushing hard to have those laws changed.

  10. Oh that’s interesting. I had no idea, it wasn’t always allowed. If there’s one thing we have a constant supply of it is Rain. At least in Western Washington where most of the population lives. Eastern and Central Washington are very dry and almost desert like. Many people around Seattle use rain barrels at their homes to water their garden for free. For some reason water from the utilities is expensive.

    Not sure but I think most counties and cities in Washington State still don’t recognize rain water collection as a viable source of water. Meaning you may have trouble getting a building permit if you don’t have a well or are hooked up to city water. There may be ways around it, I haven’t done all the research.

  11. Love the videos you’re doing. Looking forward to seeing more.

    I was under the (old) impression that Washington was one of those states that didn’t allow rain water collection (unless you have water rights to the land) and was pleasantly surprised to see that the state government made an official statement back in 2009 making it clear it was ok. http://www.ecy.wa.gov/programs/wr/hq/rwh.html

  1. May 21, 2010

    […] Rainwater Collection Video at the Solar Burrito […]