rainwater harvesting

Does anyone have experience with using above ground swimming pools for water catchment?

Not first hand, but I'd want a cover for it. Evaporation, keeping debris and bugs out, and stop algae from growing(block sunlight).

wayne fajkus wrote:... but I'd want a cover for it. Evaporation, keeping debris and bugs out, and stop algae from growing(block sunlight).

Using floating edible plants would be a good way to cover the pool while making it still productive. I personally would convert the pool into a pond/natural pool as shown in the below link.

http://permaculturenews.org/2011/10/28/urban-pool-to-pond-conversion-two-year-progress-report/
http://www.abc.net.au/gardening/stories/s3885240.htm

Karnold

Kathy D. : You did not specify a storage location, or plumbing/pumps and/or water pressure, I have included a link to an earlier discussion in this Forum where

This was discussed !! ///// Link below :


https://permies.com/t/36573/rainwater/Economical-ways-pump-collected-rainwater#416574


And a further link back to a listing of all past "Rainwater Catchment threads''

- most recent 1st . /// Link Below :


https://permies.com/forums/f-105/rainwater

Hope you find it timely and useful. For the Good of the Craft ! Big AL

Kathy Dutton wrote:Does anyone have experience with using above ground swimming pools for water catchment?

That is what Ive decided to use to store my collected rainwater. I purchased them on Amazon. I decided to go with several smaller ones just in case something happened, I'd still have some water stored. Mine hold from about 500 to about 1,500 gallons to a total of about 4,500 gallons. This was 'only' a few hundred dollars. I don't know how long they will last, but I hope a few years. They will not be used for swimming.

I've diverted downspouts into an old in-ground spa that holds about 400 gallons. I use a pond pump to fill the pools from the spa. (From my roof, I can get about 2,000 gallons per inch of rain.) Last night we got over an inch of rain, and I was able to harvest about 1,500 gallons. Unfortunately the rain fell in the middle of the night, and I slept through some of it.

We generally don't have rain from April-ish to November-ish. If we are lucky, some years we might get a half inch from a tropical storm that strays up the coast, but that can't be counted upon. The biggest problem using above-ground, open pools is evaporation. After some trial and error, I'm going to cover them with cut to size, used floating solar pool cover. This stuff is like strong bubble wrap with air pockets. Simple plastic sheeting can sink - this stuff doesn't. On top of that will be a sheet of black plastic to keep algal growth down. Over that will be a cheapo tarp to cut down on UV damage. Hopefully there won't be too much evaporation. If mosquitoes get in, I'll roll back the top and put in a mosq or gold fish till they are gone. Will also check out dunks to see if they are toxic.

This water will be only used in the garden, and will be redirected with submersible pumps. That's also what I use to move about grey water when there is too much for buckets.

Hopefully our drought will end soon. But in the meantime, gardening will take greater effort.


edit, I'm surprised more people don't use these sorts of pools for rainwater storage. Occasionally I see one in the background of a video, but there is very little info about using them in the garden, especially when other sorts of tanks are so very expensive.

I'm struggling to find attractive rainwater harvesting systems components that are attractive. most part and pieces are not the most attractive. Have you seen or do you own any Rainwater Harvesting Systems that are custom and look "better" than the standard barrel and hose arrangement?

Kathy Dutton wrote:Does anyone have experience with using above ground swimming pools for water catchment?

Yes. I got this pool for €99.00 in the end of summer sale. reduced from €599.00. it holds 23000 litres (approx. 6350 US gallons).
The other end of the pipe is 90 metres away and about 6 metres higher in the part time creek, that has water for a few weeks of the year after it rains.
The water goes into the plastic dustbin where mud settles out, and clearer water overflows into the pond.


the inflatable rim at the top of the pool got destroyed after a few months by 50 mph winds. I'm in the process of digging out a depression of similar size so the pool can be used as a liner.

There are beautiful wooden tanks available, but very expensive: http://forestlumber.com/cisterns/

I did buy the above ground pool. I had planned on fish. Check out the ten foot(i think) pool on amazon. It's the best size price.

Then I changed my mind and I just bought 20 mil pond liner.I will use it to line a 2000 gallon pit I dug out a couple of years ago. The big rolls of plastic I bought at home depot always have small holes in them.
The pond liner came from amazon, free shipping.

I have a simple rafter design that I cover with plywood.no legs, just on the ground. I made a small one for a little pond and it's kinda cute.

One thing i've learned recently about submersible pumps: most are oil filled and not recommended for use with fish or potable water, just in case they break during use. there are some oil free submersibles on the market. I love these less expensive storage solutions. thanks for the great thread

I've used oil based pumps for a couple decades now, both with fish, and without, and no problems yet. I don't drink my rain water, and have no plans to. That's not because of the pumps I've been using however, but because the water is not clean enough for human standards. When I used to keep larger fish and hung out on fish boards, I don't recall anyone saying to not use these sorts of pumps, or having any trouble. But that was a number of years ago so maybe the recommendations have changed. I would suggest not getting a cheapo pump from China in any case.

Here is an article from a commercial site on the topic, so take what they say with a grain of salt.

http://eaglefountains.com/pond-fountains-oil-less-pumps-vs.-pumps-that-contain-oil/

"Pond Fountains: Oil-Less Pumps vs. Pumps that Contain Oil"

Thanks Rue, I appreciate that info. I got the info about oil filled pumps from the manuals, which say not to use them for potable or fish applications but i suspect the failure rate leading to oil actually in the water is really quite low. i suspect its largely about self protection for the companies, and for me since in a few cases i'm getting paid to do it.

Anthony Zagelow wrote:I'm struggling to find attractive rainwater harvesting systems components that are attractive. most part and pieces are not the most attractive. Have you seen or do you own any Rainwater Harvesting Systems that are custom and look "better" than the standard barrel and hose arrangement?

There are a few mostly looking like rocks. I personally like the barrel look, and they can be hand painted to add charm.

Corey Schmidt wrote:Thanks Rue, I appreciate that info. I got the info about oil filled pumps from the manuals, which say not to use them for potable or fish applications but i suspect the failure rate leading to oil actually in the water is really quite low. i suspect its largely about self protection for the companies, and for me since in a few cases i'm getting paid to do it.

I think some of the concern is from submersible pumps used in wells that are harder to keep and eye on, and that will affect the water in a household. If I were putting in any sort of pump for someone else, I'd do a lot more reading about it. Sometimes what people do is more about CYA (as you said in a nicer way) because ramifications of something going wrong can be worse, even when the danger might not be significant.

Anthony Zagelow wrote:I'm struggling to find attractive rainwater harvesting systems components that are attractive. most part and pieces are not the most attractive. Have you seen or do you own any Rainwater Harvesting Systems that are custom and look "better" than the standard barrel and hose arrangement?

check out my post about a system i built
https://permies.com/t/55399/rainwater/potable-rainwater-harvesting-system-client

judge for yourself whether its attractive, but i built the tank myself from fairly inexpensive materials, so 'custom' would definitely apply. : )