Rainwater First Flush Diverter and Screen filter

My Gravity-fed drip irrigation rainwater system has had constant issues with debris blockage. The outlet gets clogged and the pre-drip irrigation filter gets clogged despite the first flush diverter. This is my newest attempt at keeping the water cleaner and helping with the problems.





The first flush diverter is to the right. Its really just meant as a way of increasing the time between needing to clean the screen. Ball valves open quickly and allow more flow with less blockage than hose bibb or globe valves.





After passing over the diverter, water dumps into the geotextile/screen over the trash can before making its way out of the can and into the storage tank. Ive been using this same set up with a 55g barrel. The barrel gets much less water but I have only had to clean the fabric once in over a year. This cheapo trash can has a smaller area for the fabric/filter but it seems to handle the increased volume just fine. Will probably have to clean the fabric more regularly though. The fabric hangs all the way down to touch the slotted PVC pipe below.



View inside trash can with fabric removed. The PVC is slotted on both sides. I used a cartridge of anchoring epoxy to glue one end to the back of the trashcan. This helps stiffen the can and reduces movement at the vulnerable penetration which is also epoxied on its way to the storage tank. Now all I need is more storage tanks!

I am seeing the word "screen" in the forum here a lot especially in this topic. When we talk about screen - I am imagining something like this: Wire Mesh in a woven stainless steel? Am I way off on my thinking on this? I apologize for my lack of knowledge, just a beginner who stumbled across this forum...

Hi Jon, to me "screen" has a very wide range of definitions. It could be fabric or it could be rebar grid. The type of screen Iam using here is a geotextile fabric normally used in erosion control, grading and drainage projects. I get mine from a concrete supply warehouse but landscape suppliers often carry them as well.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Geotextile

The performance update is that the screen is seeing MUCH more debris than my other one. The concern is that it will clog during heavy rains and spill out next to the basement foundation wall. I upgraded my slope before installation and used plastic sheeting a couple inches below the dirt so spilling water should still be directed away. An insect screen would help alleviate this concern and extend the time between cleanings but Iam more concerned with keeping crud out of my storage tank because its eventually fed to the drip irrigation with only one more small filter along the way.

Brian,

Although I don't have a catchment system (yet), I have had HUGE issues with gutters clogging and causing problems with flooding and ice damming.

The thing that had the biggest impact on my problems was attacking the sources of the debris. Keeping trees trimmed back from the house/roof/gutters and having some sort of "Gutter Guard" in place to stop the leaves/flowers/seeds from getting into the system to begin with really helped. And it's a lot less aggravating than having to clean the gutters 4-5 times a year.

Frank Brentwood : Dirty partially plugged gutters are a very commonly Prevalent and Overlooked source of Mosquito Larva, and Mosquitos !
Directing a garden hose's spray up onto the lower edge of the houses roof should result in quick flushing of the system, and the washing
away of potential Bloodsuckers ! Big AL!