Now we're saving electricity!!

[Christ]

Isaac -

Shouldn't head be considered based on the level of the water in the tank? I figure if it's full, you can count on another 2-3 feet there alone, I think.

Can you elevate the tank at all?

[IsaacCarlson]

It will only be full when I start watering....so I am trying to plan for the lowest level of water to make sure it works well all the time. The tank will be almost two feet off the ground. I can't put it any higher because of the dish height. I put the posts as close together as I dared to get the dish high enough. The reason it is not higher is because I used the corner post of the fence and it is only 6'. I also do not want the tank uphill from the gutters on the outbuildings. It will be fun piping the water to the tanks. I don't know if I should run it over the driveway or under. If I run it under then I have to made darn sure I get ALL the water out before it freezes. If I go over it is going to hold snow/ice and be heavy/hazard. I can do the barn easy but the shed is a bit harder. I am hoping to get the platform built for the tank today if it cools down. I found out a 2" pvc coupler will fit on the tank valve, so I now have a way of necking it down to a garden hose fitting and tee into the other containers.

[solarguy]

As noted, there are several states, particularly in Colorado, where the government has seen fit to make it against the law to capture or use the rain water that falls on your own property. You can't even use your water twice, like using grey water to irrigate your orchard. Verboten.

Putting this in the best possible light, if they don't do that in Colorado and similar states, the Colorado river could dry up and Los Angeles right along with it.

In Colorado, Rain Barrels Are Illegal. Yup. GroovyGreen.com – Start Today :: Save Tomorrow

We could have a whole other interesting conversation about land use and government people sticking their nose in your business, along with the wisdom of having big cities in deserts.

Finest regards,

troy

[sid]

Here in Florida, we have the opposite problem. The local governments encourage us to capture rainwater because we have heavy rains and very heavy runoff. Building and maintaining drainage ditches and retention ponds to handle this runoff is expensive and takes up a lot of land. Anything to slow or decrease the runoff is welcome.

I have eight 50 to 60 gallon each rain barrels around my property.

By the way, the satellite dish is a great idea for capturing rain water some distance from a building.

I've been looking for a smaller dish to cover with aluminum foil and convert to a solar oven. You could probably weld with a 9 foot dish

[Christ]

Originally Posted by sid

Here in Florida, we have the opposite problem. The local governments encourage us to capture rainwater because we have heavy rains and very heavy runoff. Building and maintaining drainage ditches and retention ponds to handle this runoff is expensive and takes up a lot of land. Anything to slow or decrease the runoff is welcome.

I have eight 50 to 60 gallon each rain barrels around my property.

By the way, the satellite dish is a great idea for capturing rain water some distance from a building.

I've been looking for a smaller dish to cover with aluminum foil and convert to a solar oven. You could probably weld with a 9 foot dish

Well, you could at least solder.

[Ryland]

Originally Posted by Christ

Well, you could at least solder.

I've melted aluminum with a small 2 foot dish like direct TV puts on houses, a 9 foot dish would melt stuff really well, boil water rather quickly too, maybe run a steam engine?

I was thinking about the dish like this tho, and what would be slick is to build a little garden deck with a flat roof and this dish in the center.

[IsaacCarlson]

I bet it could weld, but it is kind of bent up from being hauled to the dump. I don't think the previous owner was interested in saving it. I stayed up late last night finishing the platform for the tank. And.....I did it all with a chainsaw! Here are some pics. It did drizzle here today and I managed to get about 15 gallons or so. It works just the way it is supposed to.

[Christ]

Wanna build my house? LOL. I'll supply the chainsaws, and you can take down the logs!

So, I have a dish in the backyard at my Father's house that's one of those mesh-thing dishes from back in the days of free-feed satellite. I think it's close to 20 ft. diameter... bet I could do some good with that!

[rmay635703]

Originally Posted by Laurentiu

That sounds pretty ridiculous why the heck did they pass such a law ?

Same reason electricity costs are going up when our area is saving electricity

[IsaacCarlson]

Originally Posted by Christ

Wanna build my house? LOL. I'll supply the chainsaws, and you can take down the logs!

So, I have a dish in the backyard at my Father's house that's one of those mesh-thing dishes from back in the days of free-feed satellite. I think it's close to 20 ft. diameter... bet I could do some good with that!

Sure! I built Wayne May's place. (he owns/runs Ancient American Archeology)
I love building things.

I have two mesh dishes that are 10'. Not sure how to make them water tight though....they leak like a sieve!