Rainwater: my experience 14m3 family 5 people

[Obamot]

There is a very simple trick that sterilizes water, it is to pass it over stones in the open air, UV kills all microorganisms .... Of course you need a pump to activate on a regular basis.

Now the problem of water storage is that when the tank fills we don't need to water, since it is raining .... And when it does not rain, the reserve is very exhausted very quickly...

So unless there is a large body of water that can be used as a swimming pool ...?

[plasmanu]

for alainG.
If you just produce the necessary: ​​no.
Like pissing in the neighbor's flowers. Just enough to kill, not enough to smell

[Alain G]

Plasmanu

Not to be negative but ...

Be careful because it can produce bad chlorine if not done according to compliance otherwise take the device is very expensive!

Pissing in the flowers doesn't cost anything!

[plasmanu]

discreetly. of course.
no need to ask the prefect or warn the fire department.
I didn't know the bad chlorine in salt electrolysis.
surely bad salt.

[Macro]

There is a very simple trick that sterilizes water, it is to pass it over stones in the open air, UV kills all microorganisms .... Of course you need a pump to activate on a regular basis.

Now the problem of water storage is that when the tank fills we don't need to water, since it is raining .... And when it does not rain, the reserve is very exhausted very quickly...

So unless there is a large body of water that can be used as a swimming pool ...?

As far as I'm concerned, water was used to power our house, toilets, showers, washing machine, dishwasher ... Everything except the drink (and again I only used it in the teapot and Mamita to cook the noodles) , I only water my little vegetable patch and the watering can (and there I have another reserve of 6000l, for 30 salads 3 feet of melons two zucchini and 18 feet of tomato, with 600 watering cans I have what to see come) ...

What was great was the anti-tart or even descaling effect of this rainwater, it cleans just like in the Calgon pub ...

The shot of the "fountain" on a pile of pebbles exposed to UV ...
I am afraid of increasing the contamination because of the animals (birds, toads ...) who will come to paddle there

[tatayet38]

Hello,
I just bought an acidity tester to find out the aging state of the heat transfer fluid in my solar installation.
Just to try, I checked my rainwater, I expected it to be neutral or acidic and it is actually basic (8)

[Rabbit]

As long as going up old posts:

My experience in rainwater equipment for the home came to a halt this spring .... The water in the tank smells more strongly of rotting than that which goes down the drain.

Your problem is probably the introduction of pollens into your
tank. It happens in the spring, and as you had this
problem in the spring I suspect that this is the cause. then
that the conifers emit their pollen this can be very large
quantities, this pollen is deposited on the roof (among others) and at the first
rain enters the tank.
In this case the only solutions are the aeration of the tank during
several days, or emptying and cleaning the tank and
filters followed by rinsing of the conduits (+ washing machine or other).

[Greg T]

Just to try, I checked my rainwater, I expected it to be neutral or acidic and it is actually basic (8)

Hi Tatayet,

If your tanks are made of concrete, this may explain the basicity of your water since concrete is basic.

[the middle]

My tank is buried, and the inspection hatch is located under a wooden terrace. I did not get into it but there must not be a lot of light The only place where it sees the light (and still only a few tens of minutes per day is the three transparent filters in the cellar ... Oddly I 3 transparent cubis which have been full for 2 years, not protected from light and they have no smell ...

But I remain convinced that my concerns are directly linked to the mosses and lichens that fall from my roof (the cubis are filled with water from a galvanized sheet roof). I think I can say that there are within 10cm of mud in the bottom of the tank, the original pre-filtration on the tank is fairly basic (200µ sieve).
It is all the more unfortunate that during the time when it functioned correctly despite average precipitation, it allowed me to ensure 35% of our consumption, with the showers that we have had since the end of this winter , it could have ensured our consumption since February for sure ...

I did not study the project enough before realizing it, I am afraid, that now it is too late to modify (no more possibility of installing an effective filter easily cleanable before the tank) ... Unless cover my house with solar panels or there would be no foam ...

Macro Hi!


It is clear that if organic matter is in the water path it creates your contamination and odor problem.

Chlorination even if not very ecological remains a good decontamination solution, the tank must be well cleaned of decanted sludge and rinsed well then you filled with chlorinated water, you poured a little water to bring the chlorinated water to the tap until you perceive the smell of chlorine which you leave at least 24 hours and you empty the reserve by the pipes which are used as food.

The cleaning of the roof and all the conduits must be done before decontamination.


If trees are near the roof the branches should be cut to avoid further contamination.

Hi macro,
I use rainwater for everything., No problem for 20 years.
Alain was right (puns)
If your roof is slate, it is necessary to scrape the mosses by hand, not a high pressure cleaner.
This year, I am 100% rainwater, and 0% sun!

[moinsdewatt]

for alainG.
If you just produce the necessary: ​​no.
Like pissing in the neighbor's flowers. Just enough to kill, not enough to smell

well no. urine is a fertilizer. Full of phosphorus.
I put some in my flowers.