rain Water Catchment rainwater harvesting Part 2

This is the second installment dealing with my water catchment systems. This is from the system at the front of my house, while Part 1 is one of the systems at the rear of the house.

Category:

Howto & Style

Tags:

• ecology
• environment
• rainwater
• harvesting
• conservation
• rain
• water
• collection
• cisterns
• drought
• catchment
• green

[tribalwind]

dont you get mosquitoes with all those uncovered containers?

[feelytouchy67]

@tribalwind, I use BT (Bacillus thuringiensis) bits and dunks to kill the larva - very cheap, non-toxic method.

Living where I do there are a lot of puddles for miles around after a rain, so the possibility of "getting rid of mosquitos" would be pretty impossible without innundating everything with toxins -- but one could innundate the waters with BT. However, if you did that, you would then destroy an important food source of frogs, lizards, bats, and many other wildlife.

[tribalwind]

@feelytouchy67

ahh gotcha,

yes of course, wouldnt suggest erradicating every last 1,just wouldnt want to intentionally create habitat for em in my backyard! aside froma lil pond where as you mentioned,frogs etc will get em.... i just learned of another method for rainbarrels. supposedly a tablespoon or so of veggie oil now n then will keep an impenetrable film on the surface so they cant get thru to lay,or out from under. no personal exp with it but will try. im about to build my system 500gal

[feelytouchy67]

@tribalwind, Good luck on your endeavor!

I've heard of the vege oil method - hope it works out if you go that way. You might also try vege glycerine too . . . but I'll stick with BT.

I'm sure that having a method of sealing the tank when it isn't raining (like a spring loaded "gate" that closes when there is no water coming through the downspout) would prevent all mosquito infestation - but I don't know of anyone using it . . . .

[tribalwind]

@feelytouchy67 oh i'll probably use bt also ,the dunks are cheap enough.

i finished getting gutter-guard screen on all the gutters today,after the diy first-flush/roofwasher contraption ill have fine-screen b4 the drums so doubt anythings getting in them! ...thanks and take care'

[feelytouchy67]

@tribalwind, That sounds like great system! :) I hope one day you'll post a youtube vid of everything once it is all up and running!

Take care, yourself, and enjoy . . .

[feelytouchy67]

@ee870, not sure what you refer to, as the only plastic are the barrels. All else is galvinized steel (except for my old pool, of course, which is concrete, now used for water catchment and featured in one of my other videos).

But don't think they'll catch me in anything, but your point is well taken. Our government can kill innocent people in other countries, and/or destabilize foreign governments, but they never prosecute themselves for these things much, just us, for stuff like swimming!

[ee870]

plastic above ground Swimming pool? that you just don't swim in, ever. would they still get you for not Swimming in it.

[getrealthen]

@cyberlord64

Honey here in Lex. you have to BUY a rain barrel, and if you do, it is regulated by the water company, and according to how much you have each month , you pay!!!!!!!!!!! TAXES!!!!!!!!!!!!

The law where you live cannot own the wind, because it blows from all over the world. But, the law where you live does own a portion of the empty space that the rain falls from, and it is to hit the ground, and travel to areas like Army Corp of Engineers excavation, and to Government places

[getrealthen]

@cyberlord64

I know, and America is still one BIG GAS HOG.