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#1
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capturing roof rainwater to water plants
I pay water and sewer fees on every single gallon of water I use for
my plants. I recently planted a hedge of blueberry plants, and noticed that the house has 2 downspouts on that end, roughly 25 feet apart. I've never actually had rain barrels, though I did experiment with 5 gallon buckets a few years back. (a neighbor complained that he felt I was the source of mosquitoes in the area, and he may have been right) I'm not sure that I would have enough room to use an actual rain barrel, since the plants are only a bit over 2' from the foundation, and there is a chain link fence close to one end of the hedge. I'd love to build an underground cistern that would hold 2,000 gallons of rainwater, but I think that is probably out of the question as well, due solely to financial concerns. Can anyone suggest a solution that might let me capture the rainwater and use it for irrigation? Keep in mind that the row of plants is about 25' long, the plants are between 2' and 2.5' from the foundation, and there is a downspout at both ends of the hedge row. I was kind of hoping I'd find solutions for this at some of the big stores near here, in the garden sections, but so far I haven't. Years ago, I seem to remember seeing some sort of plastic/rubber device you could fasten to your downspout. It would inflate with water when it rained, and then slowly release the water over a couple of days. You could simply unroll it, like a huge hose, and put it near the base of the plants you wanted watered. As long as the land was relatively flat, it would work fine. I never bought one, but I think something like that might work well. Just can't seem to think of what it was called, and there is no guarantee they still make anything like that, I guess. Thanks! |
#2
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capturing roof rainwater to water plants
In article ,
Ohioguy wrote: I pay water and sewer fees on every single gallon of water I use for my plants. I recently planted a hedge of blueberry plants, and noticed that the house has 2 downspouts on that end, roughly 25 feet apart. I've never actually had rain barrels, though I did experiment with 5 gallon buckets a few years back. (a neighbor complained that he felt I was the source of mosquitoes in the area, and he may have been right) I'm not sure that I would have enough room to use an actual rain barrel, since the plants are only a bit over 2' from the foundation, and there is a chain link fence close to one end of the hedge. I'd love to build an underground cistern that would hold 2,000 gallons of rainwater, but I think that is probably out of the question as well, due solely to financial concerns. Can anyone suggest a solution that might let me capture the rainwater and use it for irrigation? Keep in mind that the row of plants is about 25' long, the plants are between 2' and 2.5' from the foundation, and there is a downspout at both ends of the hedge row. I was kind of hoping I'd find solutions for this at some of the big stores near here, in the garden sections, but so far I haven't. Years ago, I seem to remember seeing some sort of plastic/rubber device you could fasten to your downspout. It would inflate with water when it rained, and then slowly release the water over a couple of days. You could simply unroll it, like a huge hose, and put it near the base of the plants you wanted watered. As long as the land was relatively flat, it would work fine. I never bought one, but I think something like that might work well. Just can't seem to think of what it was called, and there is no guarantee they still make anything like that, I guess. Thanks! You could buy an inflatable swimming pool, if you get rain for a few days, each month during the summer. The problem with that would be mosquitos. -- - Billy "Fascism should more properly be called corporatism because it is the merger of state and corporate power." - Benito Mussolini. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Arn3lF5XSUg http://www.thirdworldtraveler.com/Zinn/HZinn_page.html |
#3
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capturing roof rainwater to water plants
Ohioguy wrote:
I pay water and sewer fees on every single gallon of water I use for my plants. I recently planted a hedge of blueberry plants, and noticed that the house has 2 downspouts on that end, roughly 25 feet apart. I've never actually had rain barrels, though I did experiment with 5 gallon buckets a few years back. (a neighbor complained that he felt I was the source of mosquitoes in the area, and he may have been right) I'm not sure that I would have enough room to use an actual rain barrel, since the plants are only a bit over 2' from the foundation, and there is a chain link fence close to one end of the hedge. I'd love to build an underground cistern that would hold 2,000 gallons of rainwater, but I think that is probably out of the question as well, due solely to financial concerns. Can anyone suggest a solution that might let me capture the rainwater and use it for irrigation? Keep in mind that the row of plants is about 25' long, the plants are between 2' and 2.5' from the foundation, and there is a downspout at both ends of the hedge row. I was kind of hoping I'd find solutions for this at some of the big stores near here, in the garden sections, but so far I haven't. Years ago, I seem to remember seeing some sort of plastic/rubber device you could fasten to your downspout. It would inflate with water when it rained, and then slowly release the water over a couple of days. You could simply unroll it, like a huge hose, and put it near the base of the plants you wanted watered. As long as the land was relatively flat, it would work fine. I never bought one, but I think something like that might work well. Just can't seem to think of what it was called, and there is no guarantee they still make anything like that, I guess. Thanks! Instead of capturing the water why not just distribute it better, eg a plastic drain pipe from the downpipes along the row with holes in it. It's cheap and doesn't make mosquito ponds. David |
#4
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capturing roof rainwater to water plants
On Wed, 26 May 2010 15:13:01 +1000, "David Hare-Scott"
wrote: Ohioguy wrote: I pay water and sewer fees on every single gallon of water I use for my plants. I recently planted a hedge of blueberry plants, and noticed that the house has 2 downspouts on that end, roughly 25 feet apart. I've never actually had rain barrels, though I did experiment with 5 gallon buckets a few years back. (a neighbor complained that he felt I was the source of mosquitoes in the area, and he may have been right) I'm not sure that I would have enough room to use an actual rain barrel, since the plants are only a bit over 2' from the foundation, and there is a chain link fence close to one end of the hedge. I'd love to build an underground cistern that would hold 2,000 gallons of rainwater, but I think that is probably out of the question as well, due solely to financial concerns. Can anyone suggest a solution that might let me capture the rainwater and use it for irrigation? Keep in mind that the row of plants is about 25' long, the plants are between 2' and 2.5' from the foundation, and there is a downspout at both ends of the hedge row. I was kind of hoping I'd find solutions for this at some of the big stores near here, in the garden sections, but so far I haven't. Years ago, I seem to remember seeing some sort of plastic/rubber device you could fasten to your downspout. It would inflate with water when it rained, and then slowly release the water over a couple of days. You could simply unroll it, like a huge hose, and put it near the base of the plants you wanted watered. As long as the land was relatively flat, it would work fine. I never bought one, but I think something like that might work well. Just can't seem to think of what it was called, and there is no guarantee they still make anything like that, I guess. Thanks! Instead of capturing the water why not just distribute it better, eg a plastic drain pipe from the downpipes along the row with holes in it. It's cheap and doesn't make mosquito ponds. It won't be so cheap when it can't dispel water quickly enough to prevent water from backing up in the gutters, either the excessive weight tearing them from the eaves and/or the water backing up into the soffits destroying the house. Buy a large plastic vat (not all that costly) or dig a pond. Why does anyone need to capture rain water in Ohio, it certainly rains there on a regular enough basis to keep plants watered... Ohio isn't in Death Valley last I looked. |
#5
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capturing roof rainwater to water plants
brooklyn1 wrote:
On Wed, 26 May 2010 15:13:01 +1000, "David Hare-Scott" wrote: Ohioguy wrote: I pay water and sewer fees on every single gallon of water I use for my plants. I recently planted a hedge of blueberry plants, and noticed that the house has 2 downspouts on that end, roughly 25 feet apart. I've never actually had rain barrels, though I did experiment with 5 gallon buckets a few years back. (a neighbor complained that he felt I was the source of mosquitoes in the area, and he may have been right) I'm not sure that I would have enough room to use an actual rain barrel, since the plants are only a bit over 2' from the foundation, and there is a chain link fence close to one end of the hedge. I'd love to build an underground cistern that would hold 2,000 gallons of rainwater, but I think that is probably out of the question as well, due solely to financial concerns. Can anyone suggest a solution that might let me capture the rainwater and use it for irrigation? Keep in mind that the row of plants is about 25' long, the plants are between 2' and 2.5' from the foundation, and there is a downspout at both ends of the hedge row. I was kind of hoping I'd find solutions for this at some of the big stores near here, in the garden sections, but so far I haven't. Years ago, I seem to remember seeing some sort of plastic/rubber device you could fasten to your downspout. It would inflate with water when it rained, and then slowly release the water over a couple of days. You could simply unroll it, like a huge hose, and put it near the base of the plants you wanted watered. As long as the land was relatively flat, it would work fine. I never bought one, but I think something like that might work well. Just can't seem to think of what it was called, and there is no guarantee they still make anything like that, I guess. Thanks! Instead of capturing the water why not just distribute it better, eg a plastic drain pipe from the downpipes along the row with holes in it. It's cheap and doesn't make mosquito ponds. It won't be so cheap when it can't dispel water quickly enough to prevent water from backing up in the gutters, either the excessive weight tearing them from the eaves and/or the water backing up into the soffits destroying the house. You are assuming that this arrangement will impede the flow of water more than the open end of the pipe and that there is weight hanging off the downpipes. There would be many cases where a suitable design can be found which doesn't have these problems. Whether this is a good solution or not depends on the details of the situation which we cannot see. I just wanted to throw up the idea that if retaining water is a problem then there is the option to not retain it. David |
#6
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capturing roof rainwater to water plants
"Ohioguy" wrote
Can anyone suggest a solution that might let me capture the rainwater and use it for irrigation? Keep in mind that the row of plants is about If you want to go back the rain barrel, just add a thin layer of vegetable oil to the top. Kills the mosquitoes and won't hurt the yard. |
#7
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capturing roof rainwater to water plants
cshenk wrote:
"Ohioguy" wrote Can anyone suggest a solution that might let me capture the rainwater and use it for irrigation? Keep in mind that the row of plants is about If you want to go back the rain barrel, just add a thin layer of vegetable oil to the top. Kills the mosquitoes and won't hurt the yard. Or fine screen acros the top. Water goes through, mosquitos can't. |
#8
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capturing roof rainwater to water plants
Bob F wrote:
cshenk wrote: "Ohioguy" wrote Can anyone suggest a solution that might let me capture the rainwater and use it for irrigation? Keep in mind that the row of plants is about If you want to go back the rain barrel, just add a thin layer of vegetable oil to the top. Kills the mosquitoes and won't hurt the yard. Or fine screen acros the top. Water goes through, mosquitos can't. This is standard practice on both inlet and overflow where roof-water tanks are common. David |
#9
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capturing roof rainwater to water plants
On May 27, 7:35*pm, "David Hare-Scott" wrote:
Bob F wrote: cshenk wrote: "Ohioguy" wrote * Can anyone suggest a solution that might let me capture the rainwater and use it for irrigation? *Keep in mind that the row of plants is about If you want to go back the rain barrel, just add a thin layer of vegetable oil to the top. *Kills the mosquitoes and won't hurt the yard. Or fine screen acros the top. Water goes through, mosquitos can't. This is standard practice on both inlet and overflow where roof-water tanks are common. David I bought a cheap plastic garbage can and wrapped the top with window screen. Drilled a hole in the bottom and added a spigot and hose. I have it elevated with a few cinder blocks. There is not enough pressure to use a sprinkler but I can attach a short piece of soaker hose and water small segments; most of the time I use a can to carry the water to the plants. |
#10
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capturing roof rainwater to water plants
In article
, "J.R. in MI" wrote: On May 27, 7:35*pm, "David Hare-Scott" wrote: Bob F wrote: cshenk wrote: "Ohioguy" wrote * Can anyone suggest a solution that might let me capture the rainwater and use it for irrigation? *Keep in mind that the row of plants is about If you want to go back the rain barrel, just add a thin layer of vegetable oil to the top. *Kills the mosquitoes and won't hurt the yard. Or fine screen acros the top. Water goes through, mosquitos can't. This is standard practice on both inlet and overflow where roof-water tanks are common. David I bought a cheap plastic garbage can and wrapped the top with window screen. Drilled a hole in the bottom and added a spigot and hose. I have it elevated with a few cinder blocks. There is not enough pressure to use a sprinkler but I can attach a short piece of soaker hose and water small segments; most of the time I use a can to carry the water to the plants. Just don't try this in Colorado, where capturing rainwater is illegal. http://articles.latimes.com/2009/mar...ed-rainwater18 -- - Billy "Fascism should more properly be called corporatism because it is the merger of state and corporate power." - Benito Mussolini. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Arn3lF5XSUg http://www.thirdworldtraveler.com/Zinn/HZinn_page.html |
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