Rainwater Collection System Part 4: Connecting & Testing The Totes

[jasdebcr]

I have been looking and reading on how to make a GOOD rainwater collection system for the last month. And i have to say your video's are the best i have seen. i have learned alot and the most from what you have post on youtube. thanks!!!!!!!!!

[LDSPrepper]

@jasdebcr Thank you. The reason I posted these videos is to help people looking for the fastest, cheapest, easiest way to store lots of water. I truly believe it is this.

[tradergary1]

Have you considered rotating the totes 90 degrees so the output is facing your door. This would give you another 4 inches in your walkway.

[pr4runner]

Also, 1" of rain on a 10 SQ (roofing term) / 1000 SF roof will create 600 gallons of water.

[LDSPrepper]

@pr4runner With my roof size I get about 1600 gallons with 1" of rain.

[pr4runner]

550 gal H2O / 3 quarts of use a day use for 1 person ( w/ no replenishment) = 733 days of water for one person. AWESOME. Good detail & nice detail to the project.

[cmikl3518]

Also think about the pressure build up...Vented caps will work with different temperature extremes...

[LDSPrepper]

@cmikl3518 I address that and show two solutions that I use in my Rainwater Collection System Playlist. Please watch it for more info on how to build this and ventilation.

[cmikl3518]

Very important point I didn't hear you explain yet was the importance of using "VENTED" caps or risk a vacuum imploding the totes...

[loudlikenature]

Great video, thinking about doing this as well. How well do you think the bottom frame will handle the weight of the top one? The top cube (when full) will weigh almost 2300lbs. Have you seen any flexing of the metal frame on the bottom? What about long term exposure to weather? Any frame rusting?

[LDSPrepper]

@loudlikenature the frames are made for staking. They will easily take the weight. They will not rust. They are aluminum.

[penney372]

In a heavy down pour the 2" pipes will be unable to vent and let the water in .

Check out penney372 this system uses 3" feeding 2" inlets .

[LDSPrepper]

@penney372 I watched your videos. Looks great. I agree bigger is better. I wish I had your rain.

[Rocky1765]

LDSPrepper, you said you found these on CraigsList? Im in San Antonio and I can't find anybody that will sell and ship to SA for under $200 a piece.. :( any suggested vendors?

[LDSPrepper]

@Rocky1765 I did a search on sanantonioDOTcraigslistDOTorg for "55 gallon" and found the following listings. I hope these help.

sanantonioDOTcraigslistDOTorg/­grd/2440184085.html $119

sanantonioDOTcraigslistDOTorg/­grd/2438688276.html

sanantonioDOTcraigslistDOTorg/­grd/2436443521.html $115

[Rocky1765]

@LDSPrepper Thanks, I did also see the 55gallon ones, but am thinking about your system with the square stackables. I will keep looking, thanks again.

[LDSPrepper]

@Rocky1765 Those are for the 275 gallon totes. Read the craigslist posts. I searched for "55 gallon" to find the tote listings.

[reefcut]

Amazing job, very impressive, and cost effective, I would totally camoflage these using optical illusion camoflage to match the brickwork behind it, but I am obsessive like that, lol, will these be able to be connected to a drip irrigation system? Do they sell commercial dipsticks for these for guaging water use & rationing when the SHTF? Thanks, take care.

[LDSPrepper]

@reefcut I love the camouflage idea. You need 15-45lbs of pressure for drip irrigation. In order to achieve that you will need to add a water pump to this system to build up the pressure.

[jasonmushersee]

I like the black plastic idea because without it daylight would turn the water green. If you had issues getting this to fill/drain just run a small vent hose through the 2" pvc. Nice water tower and could be hooked up to bathroom plumbing with garden hose.

[penney372]

@jasonmushersee

I use chlorine tablet in downspout and it wont turn greeen.

[TexasPreppersNetwork]

@LDSPrepper , Great video series and information . I just picked two 270 gallon totes from a supplier in 'The Heights' . I found them being sold on Craigslist , just like you said . This is an inexpensive way to collect and store a serious amount of water .

Thank you for the help and inspiration .

[SultanOfShinola]

SafeArmsReview just did a vid on these totes. You're ahead of the game brother. Keep up the good work!

[kyadak]

What are the water containers that you have called so I can look into getting some?

[LDSPrepper]

@kyadak 275 gallon totes.

[econewpower]

A great ideal LDS prepper, it looks terrific, thanks for sharing this great idea to others. However, I don't believe the bottom tank will fill as it is not vented, regardless of how large that connecting pipe is. It's not how large the pipe is, it is the location of the pipe that won't allow venting. May I suggest you unscrew the top cap and attache a vinyl hose or any other hose that you can take and tie to the top level of the top tank? That will allow it to vent and fill...continued...

[econewpower]

@econewpower I believe that if you disconnect the top of the connecting pipe and try to fill the bottom with your water hose you'll soon find out it needs a vent, but that is an easy fix. It is similar taking a wide mouth jar and pushing it upside down in water, it won't fill regardless of how big the mouth is relative to the capacity because the air is at a level higher than the intake. Again, thanks for sharing this great idea LDSPREPPER, we all look forward to more!

[Itaintnutn]

WOW, very impressed! I've got to tell you, had my doubts, but that works like a charm. Excellent system. Thanks for sharing.

[SpaceCraftsman]

Hey LDS, I really like the system. that stores 10 x 55gal drums worth in much less of a foot print. I might wait to seal the tank tops. The air will be trapped in the top of the tank, under pressure yes, but it will be air. Some type of vent that rises above the height of the top tank would help. just a thought. to prove it, try your top to bottom fill test again after sealing, My thinking is that the top won't fully empty this time. I had this problem with inverted 55 gal drum.

[fletcher3913]

If you turned the totes a quarter turn so the valves didn't protrude into your walk space you could go back the the simpler plumbing scheme.

[pkbjorn35]

The reason i as is that the top will fill up the bottom, from the bottom of it and not from the top. :-)

[pkbjorn35]

Will the top cube get enough force to fill up the bottom one? And wont you get an enorums pressure to the bottom valve?

[dumdan1988]

Obviously it works fine, Awesome setup, hard to believe all the stuff you've done since I started watching, CUDOS to you, you're a blessing to your family and all of us watching, GREAT STUFF !! Thank you for sharing.

[LDSPrepper]

@dumdan1988 Thank you for letting me know that my videos help your family. That is the reason I make them. I feel I am pretty prepared now. But what about my neighbors and all my neighbors world wide. It is time for me to help my brother. That includes you, your family and everyone else in the world who cares to listen.

[dumdan1988]

I'm not so sure that bottom tank is going to fill once is gets some water in it, how is the air going to get out it needs a vent. Not trying to cause trouble I love the work you've done. Just wondering. I think the setup is awesome except for that little thing.

[LDSPrepper]

@dumdan1988 Thanks for asking. If you use 2" PVC then there is enough room for the water to flow and the air to escape.

[chuckarama451]

@LDSPrepper I think I'm with dumdan, I don't understand yet how the air will vent out of the bottom box, beyond the first couple of inches. Once the cube has filled above the 2" pipe level on the bottom, how does the rest of the air escape from the top of the cube?

[indman101]

nice setup I found some of these on craigs list as well,only thing I see you might want to change would be the concrete block setup,those blocks being turned sideways might after awhile start sinking in the ground after it rains.

[BexarPrepper]

Great price for your tanks mine cost twice as much. Gotta find a better source. Blessings!

[1oldarmyguy]

Nicely done. Great job, looking forward to the next part. Going to have to look and see where I can get containers like you have around here.

[mountainprepper21]

Nicely done! If i might suggest something though. When you run your down spout to the barrels put in a roof washer setup before the water goes into the tanks to remove the dirt, debris and other unwanted stuff that collects on the roof. It's just a simple extra length of pvc that runs straight down with a cap and valve at the bottom and the outlet is up around the top of your tanks. When the tube fills up then the clean water spills into your tanks. :)

[PatriotPoke]

Awesome series of videos. Can't wait to use this info for my own system.

[bowlmeoverva]

Pretty amazing the water pressure you got from your system. Great video series LDSPrepper!

[cdltpx]

I would double that up so if you get damage to a pipe you will have a back up. Or have some 55 gallon barrels to capture overflow that you will have to pump out that way they will not gravity folw out by accident.

[AReptileMan]

Could you have just turned the tanks so that it would not stick out in the path?

Also if you lay your bricks with the flat part down it will have more surface space so it will not sick as bad.

[moparmanpete]

LDS That system looks great! Nice job

Pete

[LDSPrepper]

@moparmanpete Thanks Pete.

[tomyhill123]

why did u wrap the barels do u want hot water or something

[LDSPrepper]

@tomyhill123 It keeps the sun's rays out so no algae grows. See my previous Rainwater Collection videos for more info.

[Shameful26]

Great video..

[BaruBear77]

With such good water pressure you could hook into your home plumbing system and have water for you home as well. Also the other four totes would it be possible to capture rain water from you gutter system to have a renewable source of water. Perhaps you don't get that much rain water there in Huston, but here in New England it rains all the time. We would have a problem in the winter with the water freezing.

[LDSPrepper]

@BaruBear77 Both the two and four totes systems will be rainwater collection systems.

[ss109guy]

Maybe I am missing something or thinking about it wrong but how does the bottom tank vent (air) to fill?

[LDSPrepper]

@ss109guy The air vents through the 2" PVC pipe as it fills. The best way to fill the lower tank is to keep both the top and lower tote's valves open and fill the bottom tote as the rainwater or hose water enters the top tote. I didn't do that because I was testing how long it took me to fill the top tote.

[katzcradul]

Sage advice. Unique and innovative water set-up. Thanks for sharing the information.

[unomas58]

Very nice setup.I'm really surprised the lower tank does not become air locked with it not being vented.I'm really glad it worked so well.Great video.

[btigtime2]

Cool

[jwwm2]

Wow! That is excellent. Nicely made, nicely presented, obviously easy and workable for almost anyone. My Congratulations.

[crusader1492]

Where do you buy the 275 gallon tank?

[LDSPrepper]

@crusader1492 CraigslistDOTcom

[jwlrymkr]

Looks great. I got one of these totes a few months ago. What is the purpose of the black plastic?

[LDSPrepper]

@jwlrymkr It keeps the sun's rays out so no algae grows. See my previous Rainwater Collection videos for more info.