Rainwater collection,a few questions.

[oz in SC V2.0]

We have installed guttering along one side of our place,it is currently being diverted away from the house but not collected.

One of the problems we have is,because of the layout of the house,and acces to behind the building,the drain pipe from the downspout has to be buried.
We can't do the usual and run the pipe from the downspout into the top of the storage tank.

So...if I bury the pipe under the drive,then bring it back to the surface on the other side of the drive,won't there be water standing in the pipe?

I did a mock up,dug the pipe down and ran it up above the ground about a foot.It did flow through until I shut the hose off,then the water 'equalised'.
This would not be good in the real world I don't think,or would it?

Any help is appreciated.

I am also looking for a source for gutter to pipe fitting,our downspout is 2''x3'' and the only fittings at Lowes are 3''x4''.

[TNHermit]

If you could use pvc or something like it then it would be sealed. you could then run it under ground and up and into a tank on the other side. as long as the tank wasn't higher than your roof you would be under the water seeks its own level. So if you fill the pipe on one side to the top or the tank any more after coming down would force the other side into the tank. this explanation make sense ?

[oz in SC V2.0]

Okay I just started thinking this through and I guess having water in the pipe is fine as long as nothing nasty can get in there.

The only issue is one end of the drain system is kind of open(the downspout) and 'stuff' could get in there.

[TNHermit]

Originally Posted by oz in SC V2.0

Okay I just started thinking this through and I guess having water in the pipe is fine as long as nothing nasty can get in there.

The only issue is one end of the drain system is kind of open(the downspout) and 'stuff' could get in there.

you have to put a valve on it that directs te original water away. I have a diagram of an automatic valve you can make if I can find it. you basically direct a small stream from a short hose in the spout to a can on a weighted arm. When the stream fills the can it opens the valve. but there is a small hole in the can to let the water drain out so when it quits raining and the water drains out the can the weight closes the valve. Some guy with a degree in 8th grade common sense figured it out
Just imagine a justice scale with a weight on one end and an can on the other. then a hose above the can for water to run in and a smaller hole for it to run out.

[Bearfootfarm]

If you can put your storage against the house, you could still route any over flow or bypass underground.

Otherwise, the top of the tank will have to be lower than the end of the pipe to avoid having it hold water

[oz in SC V2.0]

Would this work?

http://www.usplastic.com/catalog/item.aspx?sku=19608

[oz in SC V2.0]

Originally Posted by Bearfootfarm

If you can put your storage against the house, you could still route any over flow or bypass underground.

Otherwise, the top of the tank will have to be lower than the end of the pipe to avoid having it hold water

Have a 55 gallon drum(for example) at the house,and a pipe leading FROM it to a bigger tank....that would work.

[TNHermit]

Don't need a back flow valve. The water level at the tank and in the pipe will be level on both sides. Just like a water level. All you need is a valve just above the level line on the pipe on the side opposite the tank, to keep the critter out and let the first of the rain water wash out, then open and the pressure in the pipe will fill the tank. Might need an overflow or another tank

Can you not do the pipe against the house to get over the drive. keep it 10ft off the ground. Its two story if I remember right.

[meanwhile]

You can find piles of good information about Rain Water and any type of water at these sites:

http://www.harvestingrainwater.com/

http://www.oasisdesign.net/index.htm

http://greywateraction.org/

[meanwhile]

We had a 550 Gallon tank setting at the back of the house........piping from it ran down hill to a 2nd tank that held 1500 gallons......the pipe was held up with metal posts and clamps.....and we planted vines and beans along the whole pipe line....it looked quite nice........we pumped the water out with a small gas pump and also fed it gravity fed down a hill to re-charge a spring system.....

It worked great.........we took it apart last year after our Cistern was in place but it was great - filled up faster than I ever would have thought........did not get nasty like many people predicted.....was easy to clean up.......we saved all the pipes and tanks to use again.......

Good luck

If water sits in the pipe it could freeze and crack the pipe. I don't know if you get the freezing weather in NC?

[TNHermit]

Originally Posted by Nimrod

If water sits in the pipe it could freeze and crack the pipe. I don't know if you get the freezing weather in NC?

Simple drain plug in an elbow at the bottom