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“Water is the driving force of all nature.” – Leonardo da Vinci
Basic System
This system is designed with the minimal cost and minimal effort involved. It also relies upon having a separate water filter to pass your water through. As it was stated in the introduction, there is a women that I know who drinks directly from her water butt. With a little extra attention you can improve the quality of the water before using it in a gravity feed water filter or another type of filter of your choosing.
There are a number of variations of this system, from the most basic through to a system which is will remove some sediment and small particles, before you pass it through your water filter. This will help to prevent the filter from clogging up with contaminants and thus extend the life span of the filters.
You can choose if you want to add more or less components in the system.
Firstly you must make sure that your roof is of a suitable material and clean from moss and other contaminants. (see roofing types - below)
Downpipe Location
If possible make sure that the downpipe from you roof is accessible and in a convenient location near to where you will be using it. You will need some access around it in order to fit the downpipe diverter and do any adjustments or maintenance in the future.
The first job to do is position the primary storage tank.
Primary Storage Tank
Make sure that the Primary storage tank is positioned in a convenient location and on a firm surface. A hard standing is required, like a concrete base or on a patio or deck that could hold the weight of the barrel filled with water. The barrel itself weighs 7.5kg and can hold 220l of water. That's a maximum weight of 227.5kg which is quite considerable.
Do not place the barrel on grass on soil, because for the downpipe diverter and overflow pipe to work correctly, they should be fitted at the correct height with relation to the downpipe. Once the barrel fills up with water it could be subjected to movement due to the weight of the water in the barrel and if it is positioned on grass or soil it could begin to sink and move from the correct level that you have installed it at. At a minimum place in on a base of crushed hardcore which has been compacted at a depth of 10cm (100mm).
For this basic system you will be filling up your bottles or containers via a tap connected to the barrel. This needs to be done in advance of any other work because for most taps you will need access to the inside of the barrel.
The tap needs to be positioned at a height so you can get a container underneath the tap to collect your water. This will vary depending on what container you wish to use. The tap must not be positioned at the very base of the barrel because over time a small layer of sediment may build up in the bottom of the barrel and you do not want this getting into your container when you fill it up.
To fit the tap you need to drill a hole at the height that you have chosen. Each tap will vary slightly, but you can use a hole saw or auger drill bit. Then place the tap into the outside hole and connect the tap nut in the inside of the barrel and with one hand inside the barrel on the nut and one outside the barrel on the tap and tighten up by hand. Do not use a spanner or other tool because you might damage the tap by over tightening.
All thought not essential it would be a good idea to fit a drain valve or another tap right at the base of the barrel. This will make it easier for future maintenance and cleaning. You could wash or jet wash the inside of the barrel and have all the water drain straight out of the bottom of the barrel.
Fitting the Downpipe Diverter
As mentioned in the Downpipe Diverter section (see here for a comprehensive explanation of downpipe diverters), there are many different types on the market and you should choose a suitable one that is compatible with your downpipe.
Depending on the downpipe diverter that you choose, manual or automatic, fit the unit as per the instructions of your diverter and make sure that it is fitted at the correct height. (see video Coming Soon).
Manual System
If you are using a manual diverter, fix a piece of ridged pipe onto the wall and connect it to the 1st storage barrel. at the other end make sure that the manual diverter flap opens into the pipe and flows gently into the storage barrel.
For this system you should install an over flow pipe from the 1st storage barrel back into the downpipe.
Automatic system
With the automatic system there is a built in overflow, so there is no need to add a separate overflow pipe.
Automatic System with 1st Flush Diverter
Fix a piece of ridged pipe between the storage barrel and the automatic diverter, and then fix the first flush diverter inthe middle of the ridged pipe.
Collect your Water & Filter it
Now you can collect your water via the tap in the storage barrel and then pass it through you water filter. A good choice would be a gravity feed water filter such as the Big Berky or British Berkfield. The filter that you use will determine how the water is filtered.
You now have drinkable water.
