I've been pondering on high-volume water storage for watering the veggie
plot for some time. I'm thinking about several thousand litres,
collected over the winter from run-off (which handily all ends up in a
single pipe to which I have easy access).

My problem however, is what to store the water in. I can find people
selling large water containers or IBCs (a metre-cube plastic container
in a steel mesh) fairly cheaply on that interweb thing, but the delivery
costs are more that the price of the container.

Anyone have other ideas for bulk water storage? (Or possible sources for
containers that might be reachable from the Taunton area, I guess, so I
can take my trailer and pick them up myself.)

James

"James Fidell" wrote in message
...
I've been pondering on high-volume water storage for watering the veggie
plot for some time. I'm thinking about several thousand litres, collected
over the winter from run-off (which handily all ends up in a single pipe
to which I have easy access).

My problem however, is what to store the water in. I can find people
selling large water containers or IBCs (a metre-cube plastic container in
a steel mesh) fairly cheaply on that interweb thing, but the delivery
costs are more that the price of the container.

Anyone have other ideas for bulk water storage? (Or possible sources for
containers that might be reachable from the Taunton area, I guess, so I
can take my trailer and pick them up myself.)

Befriend your local CORGI. The plumbing and heating geezer that is, not the
queen's favourite canine. People who have boilers replaced now are having
condensing boilers installed. This means that the water tank in the loft is
liberated, and usually comes with some convenient pipe stubs for connecting
up.

Steve

"shazzbat" wrote in message
...

"James Fidell" wrote in message
...


Doh, I forgot to put the link in. Here you can see the stuff I've made from
junk, including my watering system for the greenhouse. All the stuff you see
came from skips, scrap metal, and friendly plumbers.

http://photos.wanadoo.co.uk/album/1454062

Steve

shazzbat wrote:

Doh, I forgot to put the link in. Here you can see the stuff I've made from
junk, including my watering system for the greenhouse. All the stuff you see
came from skips, scrap metal, and friendly plumbers.

http://photos.wanadoo.co.uk/album/1454062

Love the greenhouse watering system. I've been contemplating something
similar myself, but to water plants in growbags, pots or standing in trays.

James

"shazzbat" wrote in message
...

"shazzbat" wrote in message
...

"James Fidell" wrote in message
...


Doh, I forgot to put the link in. Here you can see the stuff I've made
from
junk, including my watering system for the greenhouse. All the stuff you
see
came from skips, scrap metal, and friendly plumbers.

http://photos.wanadoo.co.uk/album/1454062

Steve

from the looks of things you rely on gravity to trickle feed the water
through the soil? I didn't notice any sort of pump. How much fall do you
have from the tank to the water piping?

rob

"George.com" wrote in message
...

"shazzbat" wrote in message
...

"shazzbat" wrote in message
...

"James Fidell" wrote in message
...


Doh, I forgot to put the link in. Here you can see the stuff I've made
from
junk, including my watering system for the greenhouse. All the stuff you
see
came from skips, scrap metal, and friendly plumbers.

http://photos.wanadoo.co.uk/album/1454062

Steve

from the looks of things you rely on gravity to trickle feed the water
through the soil? I didn't notice any sort of pump. How much fall do you
have from the tank to the water piping?

It is indeed gravity fed, and the head depends on the level in the tank at
the time. Let's say a minimum of 1ft and max of about 3ft. If you haven't
got much room to play with the amount of fall doesn't matter as long as
you're not in a hurry. Last year was it's first year in operation, and it
was manually fed then. Now it's fed so that overflow when the tank is full
goes into the greenhouse rather than to waste, and when I need more, there
is a tap to feed it in. The only other modifications over this winter have
been to put a tee in the pipe and join up to the tank, and to slightly
enlarge the holes in the pipe. It seems to work well enough, I'm sure the
tomatoes will be satisfied, particularly during Wimbledon fortnight :-))

Steve

"shazzbat" wrote in message
...

Doh, I forgot to put the link in. Here you can see the stuff I've made
from
junk, including my watering system for the greenhouse. All the stuff
you
see
came from skips, scrap metal, and friendly plumbers.

http://photos.wanadoo.co.uk/album/1454062

Steve

from the looks of things you rely on gravity to trickle feed the water
through the soil? I didn't notice any sort of pump. How much fall do you
have from the tank to the water piping?

It is indeed gravity fed, and the head depends on the level in the tank at
the time. Let's say a minimum of 1ft and max of about 3ft. If you haven't
got much room to play with the amount of fall doesn't matter as long as
you're not in a hurry. Last year was it's first year in operation, and it
was manually fed then. Now it's fed so that overflow when the tank is full
goes into the greenhouse rather than to waste, and when I need more, there
is a tap to feed it in. The only other modifications over this winter have
been to put a tee in the pipe and join up to the tank, and to slightly
enlarge the holes in the pipe. It seems to work well enough, I'm sure the
tomatoes will be satisfied, particularly during Wimbledon fortnight :-))

Steve

I have been thinking about running storm water off my garage into a large
tank and then using that to water the lawn over summer via a trickle feeder
hose (like a garden hose but with small holes punched in it). The main
problem I have identified is the size of holes in the hose itself, I want
them fairly small so as to slowly water the lawn rather than have all the
water pour out in quick time, and the pressure needed to force the water
through the holes in the hose. I am not interested in using pumps. Any
thoughts?

rob

shazzbat wrote:

Befriend your local CORGI. The plumbing and heating geezer that is, not the
queen's favourite canine. People who have boilers replaced now are having
condensing boilers installed. This means that the water tank in the loft is
liberated, and usually comes with some convenient pipe stubs for connecting
up.

Surely you only lose the cold water tank if you go to a full
mains-pressure system or use a combi boiler? Certainly the condensing
boiler I've just had installed at painful expense (previous one died on
Christmas Day because the heat exchanger had rusted through) uses all of
the existing plumbing and we still use the water tank for cold water
upstairs and filling the hot water cylinder.

What sizes are commonly used for cold water tanks? 500l?

James

James Fidell wrote:
My problem however, is what to store the water in. I can find people
selling large water containers or IBCs (a metre-cube plastic container
in a steel mesh) fairly cheaply on that interweb thing, but the delivery
costs are more that the price of the container.

What's the approximate cost?


Anyone have other ideas for bulk water storage? (Or possible sources for
containers that might be reachable from the Taunton area, I guess, so I
can take my trailer and pick them up myself.)

Make your own using 4x2 timber, 3/4" WBP ply, and fibreglass
matting.

Chris Bacon wrote:
James Fidell wrote:

My problem however, is what to store the water in. I can find people
selling large water containers or IBCs (a metre-cube plastic container
in a steel mesh) fairly cheaply on that interweb thing, but the
delivery costs are more that the price of the container.

What's the approximate cost?

I've seen 1000l containers for less than £30, but delivery is often as
much as £50 per unit. If I'm looking for three, it starts getting
expensive

Anyone have other ideas for bulk water storage? (Or possible sources
for containers that might be reachable from the Taunton area, I guess,
so I can take my trailer and pick them up myself.)

Make your own using 4x2 timber, 3/4" WBP ply, and fibreglass
matting.

Certainly has possibilities.

James

The message
from James Fidell contains these words:
Chris Bacon wrote:
James Fidell wrote:

Anyone have other ideas for bulk water storage? (Or possible sources
for containers that might be reachable from the Taunton area, I guess,
so I can take my trailer and pick them up myself.)

Make your own using 4x2 timber, 3/4" WBP ply, and fibreglass
matting.

Certainly has possibilities.

Why use fibreglass? (Expensive, and may contaminate the water with solvents.)

Make the wooden frame (old pallets), acquire some of that plastic woven
fabric fertilisers come in, use that for support, and line the thing
with thick black polythene. (But don't secure the top until it's full of
water!)

--
Rusty
Direct reply to: horrid dot squeak snailything zetnet point co period uk
Separator in search of a sig

"James Fidell" wrote in message
...
I've been pondering on high-volume water storage for watering the veggie
plot for some time. I'm thinking about several thousand litres,
collected over the winter from run-off (which handily all ends up in a
single pipe to which I have easy access).

My problem however, is what to store the water in. I can find people
selling large water containers or IBCs (a metre-cube plastic container
in a steel mesh) fairly cheaply on that interweb thing, but the delivery
costs are more that the price of the container.

Anyone have other ideas for bulk water storage? (Or possible sources for
containers that might be reachable from the Taunton area, I guess, so I
can take my trailer and pick them up myself.)

James

One of those flask-shaped cess-pools? Might be expensive to buy and install,
though. One advantage is that, as it would be underground, it wouldn't be an
eyesore.

I don't know of this might be useful for ideas:
http://www.freewateruk.co.uk/Intro-r...-recycling.htm

--
Crazy Dog
(Realising rain- and grey-water recycling will become increasingly
important)

Crazy Dog wrote:

One of those flask-shaped cess-pools? Might be expensive to buy and install,
though. One advantage is that, as it would be underground, it wouldn't be an
eyesore.

Certainly that would have the capacity. Be a sod to install here,
though -- we're just off the top of a hill and in most places there's no
more than a couple of feet of soil before you get to solid rock.

I don't know of this might be useful for ideas:
http://www.freewateruk.co.uk/Intro-r...-recycling.htm

Not seen that one before. Thanks.

James

The message
from James Fidell contains these words:
Crazy Dog wrote:

One of those flask-shaped cess-pools? Might be expensive to buy and
install,
though. One advantage is that, as it would be underground, it
wouldn't be an
eyesore.

Certainly that would have the capacity. Be a sod to install here,
though -- we're just off the top of a hill and in most places there's no
more than a couple of feet of soil before you get to solid rock.


Ah! Gunpowder! Molish your own cistern with nearby rockery, 'ruin' and
grotto...

--
Rusty
Direct reply to: horrid dot squeak snailything zetnet point co period uk
Separator in search of a sig

james
check out these tanks from these people as they are green, and very robust.....they may be a little large for what you want but its another idea for you to consider...

http://www.environmental-containers....fuel-titan.asp

ben