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Parrothead

A second rainwater harvesting project (with photos), completed.

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Parrothead

So, the landlord had a rain gutter already going across the rear of our attached 2 bedroom home. A roof catchment width of 9 meters, by 7 meters to the roof ridge. 63 square meters of total catchment area was just sitting there for the taking. I asked our landlord if he would be okay if we paid for the PVC and bought a storage tank, to use his partially built system.

 

He not only gave us approval, but provided a 1,500L tank, FREE, for our use! The only thing I had to do, was to buy the PVC piping for about $30 USD, total. 

The concrete pad was completed on the 6th, the PVC and tank set up the following day - on the 7th of August.

 

Below are some of the photos. Click them for 1600 x 1200 resolution.

 

The 6th of August

Two laborers to pour and finish the concrete was a total of $12.50.

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The cement, sand, and rock, were left over from my previous solar project, and a project the landlord had previously completed.

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It rained up to, and including the day we finished the installation. Then, it didn't rain a dang drop until a couple of days ago. When it did rain, it over flowed the tank in almost no time at all. Bear in mind, 1mm of rain over 63 m2 is 63 liters. The first 32 would be routed to the first flush system, with the balance going into the tank. It would take a full 25 mm of rainwater to overflow the tank. I could have filled two of these tanks that day. 

 

The next day, Chan washed all our clothes using the rain water previously collected. Then, yesterday, it rained again, filling the tank back to its overflow point. We definitely need more storage tanks!!

 

 

The 7th of August

IMG_1328r.jpg

 

If you look closely (may have to view this image in full view), you can see the red handle of the ball valve of the first flush system, located on the other end of the building. Look just to the left edge of the tank, near the bottom where the metal support (ring) frame starts. Also, if you look underneath the tank, you will see a ball valve used to drain the trash, sand, etc., from the tank. I will open that up for a bit, the day after every rain.

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Concrete (water) jars can be bought here for very little, actually. I want to get two 1,200L jars and put them on either side of the tree. Then, pipe them together, along with the stainless tank. I would leave the stainless tank isolated from them, though. I would use the drain (ball) valve at the bottom of the stainless tank to drain any trash that still made its way past the first flush system. Then, I would open the side valve to let it drain into the concrete tanks, filling them to their respective capacities. This would give us a total of 3,600 liters of rainwater storage, for watering the chickens, washing clothes, and anything else we may need.

IMG_1331r.jpg

 

Please note: This wasn't because I am too cheap to pay .50c US per cubic meter of water. In fact, it had nothing to do with money. Our monthly water bill is only $5.00 USD. Rather, it is all about conservation. Not to mention, the water coming off the roof is a hell of a lot cleaner than that coming from the city water mains. That, I am quite certain about.

 

This is water that is available for us to use for free. Otherwise, it would simply drain into the ground. Currently, we use about 10 cubic meters of city water, per month. I want to see how much less we use, starting next month.

 

I will take a sample of the water to have tested, the first of next week.

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Parrothead

City Rainwater Harvesting Project Update:

 

I hope this new information is accurate. Until now, I had thought the large water storage jars we had at the farm were 1,050 liters each. After talking with a guy here in town (Battambang), I learned those are 1,200 liter jars. The reason is, our landlord, who has been so helpful through our rainwater harvesting project here, had two water jars delivered for our home. Apparently, they are the largest water jars manufactured in the city, at 700 liters capacity each. There are also some smaller jars available, that are 400 liters capacity. We currently have 2,200 liters of rainwater available.

 

One thing very important to do, once you have purchased these water jars, no matter how old or new they are, is to fill them with water, in stages. If you do not do this, you will have a pretty loud "BANG!" outside one day, when least expecting it. That will be your water jar exploding into a million pieces and water being spilled everywhere. Yes, it does happen. It happened to one of ours - well, because I filled it a bit too quickly. Follow the instructions below, to properly fill a Cambodian made water jar:

 

Step 1: Fill the water jar about 1/5 to 1/4 the way up from empty. Wait three to four days.

Step 2: Fill the water jar up to about 2/3rds the way full. Wait another three or four days. 

Step 3: Fill the water jar the rest of the way full. Wait one week to ten days. 

Step 4: Drain the water jar. Clean the water jar. Refill the water jar to full.

Step 5: Begin using the water from the water jar.

 

NEVER let one of these (new) jars sit more than two days, empty of water. If you do, you will have to repeat the steps above, again, in order to season the jar.

 

Before anyone asks, no, it is not a joke. The water has to absorb into the pores of the concrete, I suppose.

 

Second water jar being delivered

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First water jar. The one we still have.

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Second water jar. The one that is no longer with us.

IMG_1416r.jpg

 

Our city water consumption has dropped 4,000 liters (4 m3) each month, since we started this project.

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Parrothead

I'd love to see how those jars are made.

 

I asked Brian Kemp to do a video for me, due to some other guys asking the same question. He did one hell of a job. I think he said it took 5,000 frames to make this video?

 

Edited by Paul
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