Just today, I decided to build or install a water tower in the backyard. The reason; water conservation. What, with a drought gripping two coasts, it only makes sense. Grab all that water from the roof during the rain and catch the daily eight gallons from the AC. My idea has always been to never let a drop of water leave my land. I can understand that may not work in every local.
Do any of you guys have any advice? I’ll study a local tower or two and get a couple of books and surf. But anybody that reads JLC (I haven’t yet) must know a starting point. It would be really neat to have a mini tower that supplied enough water, on a drip system, so we could grow blueberries among others.
2400 sq ft roof area, 4/12 pitch. Was kinda figuring on half buried 55 gallon drums at the corners, with mini sump pump and filter configurations to pump it up to the mini watertower. The drip system is rather easy. It is that in between part that represents the challange.
Big concrete pads and somewhere close to eight legs? No PVC unless it is sheilded? X gallons * 8.3 yikes. Any idea how much water a garden needs in the south or where to find out?
Your help is always greatly appreciated. I always seem to get my self into weird projects. This is one with only myself to blame. It sure beats boredom. This one could be trend if the rain man doesn’t visit soon.
PS ‘still can’t figure why you guys would want to build your own light bulbs, when you can jus’ buy ‘im TIA
Replies
Why a water tower vice a cistern? So gravity wil move the water?
How big and what does your insurance company say?
Ther's another thread (belive Luka's) on water tanks
Water weighs about 8lbs/gal.
PDF http://www.uaf.edu/coop-ext/publications/freepubs/HCM-01557.pdf
bobl Volo Non Voleo Joe's cheat sheet
Edited 8/8/2002 8:23:11 AM ET by bobl
For your water use questions, sling it to the gardening forum. See what comes up.
check out http://www.oasisdesign.net for greywater and water supply systems.
Thanks for the ideas on cisterns. Sorry, I haven't had time to get to the net.
Your right that a cistern is smarter. I'm going now to that diretion. thanks for the lead on Luka's thread. Old Pro, not quite old, not quite pro, but closer every day on both...
That tread may be at quittin timebobl Volo Non Voleo Joe's cheat sheet
When I was a kid, our only water supply was that off the roof. We had a large concrete tank in the ground that the old man boxed and poured himself.
It worked out pretty cheap compared to buying one of similar size, that is if you do the work yourself and dont factor your own labour.
It had the advantages of keeping the water cool, and was out of the way/sight.
Where I am now we have county supply to a 6,000 gallon tank. that feeds a smaller tank up a tower that gives us pressure. The whole lot is gravity fed.
I am going to build a second tower to give us one tank for the garden and one for the house. I will use second hand power poles cos they are readily available and cheap. Also very strong. Our current one is made up of welded angle iron.
Hope that helped.
Wood Hoon