Water Collection on Open Field

[SarzWix]

That's the bit I was missing thanks. Makes sense now, it will be full by last Spring or early Summer when first needed.

We'd all be a bit stuffed if we only relied on summer rain to fill the water tanks, whether from a roof or otherwise...

[zazen999]

We also have a few of these dotted around the site



The water is collected on the top plate and drains into the box itself.

We don't have any water so absolutely have to collect it all year round, and a few of these really help when the water butt starts to run dry mid summer....as it is covered the water doesn't evaporate at all.

[Snadger]

I have an IBC tank fed from my greenhouse roof and its nearly always full. I also have about a dozen water butts scattered around the plot,being fed from various chicken coops and sheds.
I very rarely need to use any mains water.........even the chooks thrive on rain water.
If the mains are on (which they aren't at the mo) I will usually use them to fill my kettle, thats all!

Why pay money to the water board for stuff that falls out of the sky for nowt and can be collected very easily!

[SarahStrawberry]

Thanks all - some brilliant ideas. And I was worried no one would reply - I should know better by now

[Kristen]

We'd all be a bit stuffed if we only relied on summer rain to fill the water tanks, whether from a roof or otherwise...

I just hadn't thought there was benefit for a water butt on its own as I was only thinking of how it would get replenished during the summer. A water butt / IBC connected to a roof is much more productive of course - a 10 x 8 greenhouse is 7.5 times the area of an IBC, so a months summer rain will half fill it.

It seems that having no lid on water butts is a good idea, increases the collecting area. I guess it needs something to keep the muck out - fine mesh netting of some sort. I'll get rid of my lids!

[zazen999]

Kristen - you need a lid on the water butt as during the summer, the water evaporates.

Leave it off in the winter, and on in the summer!

Or - Leave it off on wet days, and put it back on when it gets hot.

[Kristen]

Good point. I think earlier in the tread there was something about taking the top off the IBC and inverting it (like a funnel). Something like that would presumably prevent the evaporation I suppose. I wonder if gullible people will pay 50 quid for such a gadget?!! My local Garden Centre is full of similar, irrelevant contraptions!

Just needs a lid that is concave, with a hole in the middle and a mesh filter. Simples

[Glutton4...]

... and a single drop of olive oil. It discourages the Mozzies from invading. Or so I heard!

[zazen999]

Good point. I think earlier in the tread there was something about taking the top off the IBC and inverting it (like a funnel). Something like that would presumably prevent the evaporation I suppose. I wonder if gullible people will pay 50 quid for such a gadget?!! My local Garden Centre is full of similar, irrelevant contraptions!

Just needs a lid that is concave, with a hole in the middle and a mesh filter. Simples

See post number 7 - a large piece of plastic pulled down to make a funnel with a small hole would sort it out.

Or the original lid, upside down, with a hole drilled in the middle.

[Kristen]

Excellent. Thanks zazen999