11-17-2005, 10:54 PM
The free downloadable Texas rainwater harvesting manual (3rd ed.) is more refined and comprehensive than the recent Hawai'i guide:
http://www.twdb.state.tx.us/publications...inHarv.pdf
Their whole site is quite informative.
For more information on proper water storage systems and catchment systems:
"Water Storage: Tanks, Cisterns, Aquifers, And Ponds for Domestic Supply, Fire And Emergency Use..." by Art Ludwig
He also has the best info on graywater systems and an upcoming book on rainwater harvesting - see http://oasisdesign.net/ for more.
His above book draws on info from the more encyclopedic:
"Rainwater Catchment Systems for Domestic Supply," by Erik Nissen-Petersen & John Gould
At a minimum your system should have the following features:
Gutter screens and/or guttersnipes
First flush diverter
No standing water in delivery pipes
Truly closed, plumbed and sealed tank
I have seen almost no systems (aside from mine) with any of the above here. In fact I have yet to see even the simple improvements in the recent Hawai'i guidelines booklet implemented by catchment companies. Catchment here is fourth-world - most third-world aid projects described in Nissen-Petersen & Gould's book are better designed for water quality and safety.
I recommend against the usual open doughboy pool or corrugated tank with PVC liner. The only tanks I can truly recommend for a quality water system are truly closed and properly plumbed tanks made of HDPE (Hawai'i Chem-tainer) or ferrocment (Pacific Gunite, or DIY).
One design option to keep the cost down is to have a small, properly done tank for your household potable water which overflows into a larger, typical local design cheap non-potable tank for insurance/fire/outdoor/ag/laundry/etc. uses.
aloha,
John S.
http://www.twdb.state.tx.us/publications...inHarv.pdf
Their whole site is quite informative.
For more information on proper water storage systems and catchment systems:
"Water Storage: Tanks, Cisterns, Aquifers, And Ponds for Domestic Supply, Fire And Emergency Use..." by Art Ludwig
He also has the best info on graywater systems and an upcoming book on rainwater harvesting - see http://oasisdesign.net/ for more.
His above book draws on info from the more encyclopedic:
"Rainwater Catchment Systems for Domestic Supply," by Erik Nissen-Petersen & John Gould
At a minimum your system should have the following features:
Gutter screens and/or guttersnipes
First flush diverter
No standing water in delivery pipes
Truly closed, plumbed and sealed tank
I have seen almost no systems (aside from mine) with any of the above here. In fact I have yet to see even the simple improvements in the recent Hawai'i guidelines booklet implemented by catchment companies. Catchment here is fourth-world - most third-world aid projects described in Nissen-Petersen & Gould's book are better designed for water quality and safety.
I recommend against the usual open doughboy pool or corrugated tank with PVC liner. The only tanks I can truly recommend for a quality water system are truly closed and properly plumbed tanks made of HDPE (Hawai'i Chem-tainer) or ferrocment (Pacific Gunite, or DIY).
One design option to keep the cost down is to have a small, properly done tank for your household potable water which overflows into a larger, typical local design cheap non-potable tank for insurance/fire/outdoor/ag/laundry/etc. uses.
aloha,
John S.