11-28-2007, 06:02 AM
Mella, catchment systems are usually set up to have gravity fed (electricity-free) supply to the holding tank. Hence, as Kapohocat noted, the gutters, which collect the water running off your roof, need to be higher than your holding tank. If you are trying to use gravity feed to supply your house, your holding tank would have to be higher than your home, which happens to be where the gutters are attached. Do you get the picture?
You could plan on having a catchment area (typically your roof, but in this case not so) that is higher than your tank so your tank could be higher for gravity feed. But this might look kinda weird on a flat lot. This would effectively be two roofs, one for your house and one to catch rain. You can see why catchment systems are the way they are. We already have the roof on our home with rainwater running off, so, we gather that water.
Having said all that, I think you can run a hose or pipes from the line between your tank and your pressure pump that would certainly supply a drip water system without the use of the electrical pump. This line is often at ground level and there should be enough pressure from the higher level of the water surface/volume in the tank to push out a weak flow. If you are going to be in an area with lower rainfall, you may want to have an effective way to monitor your tank's water level if this valve will be opened a lot so that you don't put out too much water in your garden in times of drought. A second smaller tank might be a good idea in this case. You would also be able to more easily elevate it if you needed more pressure.
Edited by - Les C on 11/28/2007 10:04:09
You could plan on having a catchment area (typically your roof, but in this case not so) that is higher than your tank so your tank could be higher for gravity feed. But this might look kinda weird on a flat lot. This would effectively be two roofs, one for your house and one to catch rain. You can see why catchment systems are the way they are. We already have the roof on our home with rainwater running off, so, we gather that water.
Having said all that, I think you can run a hose or pipes from the line between your tank and your pressure pump that would certainly supply a drip water system without the use of the electrical pump. This line is often at ground level and there should be enough pressure from the higher level of the water surface/volume in the tank to push out a weak flow. If you are going to be in an area with lower rainfall, you may want to have an effective way to monitor your tank's water level if this valve will be opened a lot so that you don't put out too much water in your garden in times of drought. A second smaller tank might be a good idea in this case. You would also be able to more easily elevate it if you needed more pressure.
Edited by - Les C on 11/28/2007 10:04:09