IBC tote rainwater harvesting system... simple and cheap!

Today I take you over to my dad's house to check out how he is using a simple 300gal IBC tote lifted on blocks to water some winter greens. He is in southern Arizona and has been watering the garden greens on this side of his house almost exclusively with rainwater for the last few months. Really cool when you consider we are in a desert here!
Maybe this will give you an idea of how to add a simple, cheap and effective rainwater collection system for your own house and garden.
Thanks for watching:)
#ibctote
#rainwaterharvesting
#homesteadonomics
#waterstorage
#emergencywater
#raincollection
I own 100% of the rights of all visual and audio content in this video.

[@VitorMadeira]

Yep! This is the kind of content I'm always searching for here on KZbin: Efficient and cheap ideas on how to do more and better tasks on my homestead. Thank you so very much and greetings from Portugal.

[@amyharris7337]

Love how short, informative, and practical your videos are. Great catchment system!

[@andrewpeterson7633]

Only things to make sure of when getting an IBC is that it is Food grade and if possible getting its use history, Most food grade IBC's are used to transport Oil or Wine, if it has been used for anything Chemical avoid it, still has many uses but you do not want that in your garden or to be drinking it.

[@TRPGpilot]

Its amazing how few videos on KZbin show an elevated IBC tank similar to this. Elevation is essential for pressure especially when the water of the tank drops to below 300 litres or so and does not cost much to implement. Makes it much more efficient at filling watering cans or drip irrigation among other things.

[@markwalsh2001]

A really straightforward and easy to follow video guide, very helpful, thanks for posting.

[@homesteadonomics]

Thanks so much Mark! They are a great resource if you can find them for a good price:) Joe

[@azgridfree186]

An excellent application for an IBC tote. Loving your videos!

[@stacyadams112]

Great idea! Thanks!

[@debrabutler9954]

Hillary Homestead sent me your way. I’m impressed. Thanks for all the new ideas.

[@jgamble482]

Excellent video!

[@DaybirdAviaries]

Very cool.

[@HLuc]

I wish you have shown a closer look at how to connect from gutter to the tank.

[@1984juant]

Man I really liked your channel right away.. just the way i wish my homestead be.

[@homesteadonomics]

tecnico Thanks Tecnico! Just plugging away one project at a time! Thanks for watching!

[@PermacultureHomestead]

got the same set up, love it so much im expanding and getting 2 more 300 gal. totes.

[@homesteadonomics]

Permaculture Prepper You're absolutely right PP! they are awesome and hold a ton of water in such a small space. I'm trying to encourage my dad to to another one of the other side of his house too! Also, I've got plans for a couple IBC tote projects at my house too! stay tuned:) Joe

[@nancypoulin8016]

Joe, You gave me a great idea about raising the rain barrels. I like the fact that the water will run faster by being up higher. When we move we will definitely place them higher from day one. Right now I'm not going to have my husband move them and I don't want to waste the water by draining our barrels now. The flow was great from that height. Once again thanks, Nancy

[@homesteadonomics]

Nancy Poulin Yes, the height definitely adds some PSI to the flow for sure:) Sounds like your system is working well though too:)

[@MrDavidelliottjr]

Good stuff

[@runinguy]

I think it looks nice

[@antonioosoriokory]

Buen vídeo saludos desde México

[@homesteadonomics]

+antonio osorio Muchas gracias. alegro que te haya gustado Joe

[@naybobdenod]

Cool video without bravado and I like that :) Good luck to you Sincerely JF ( UK )

[@homesteadonomics]

naybobdenod Thanks JF! Much appreciated... this system of my Dad's is pretty much fool proof:) Thanks for watching and commenting! Joe

[@robyaksich1944]

Always good stuff, Joe. Thank you. I have one, but I need to put an overflow on it. It doesn't look like there's such an overflow on this particular setup, but do you have it others?

[@foundyet]

I elevated my 2 totes 18 inches and connected them together. On one tote the PVC connector leaks like a sieve. I'm gonna have to re do it. I used a 2 inch pipe to connect the 2 with a 3/4 nozzle or spigot on a "T" in the middle of them.

[@svelanikolova5776]

Cover the tank with black tarp. Otherwise already forms and then you have to cut the top to get it cleaned and sanitized for emergency usage

[@kennek66]

Great explanation. With the IBC tote not covered is there problems with algae growth?

[@blackberryhideout5793]

"Shoot!" I like this video!

[@homesteadonomics]

Blackberry Hideout lol... thanks Jess!

[@mikestone9129]

Simple is usually the best. Not to mention the cheapest.

[@blackriflemensorganization6139]

Superb project. Do you all have a problem with snails or slugs in your garden? I am guessing no, since that desert is pretty hot and dry... insight? Those little boogers can really eat up your greens. Thanks in advance for any feedback you can offer!

[@elainenilsson5472]

Great idea. 40 PSI for a home. Still trying to figure that part out.

[@Canadiansasquatchbrewery]

Nice setup. Once I'm owning some property I'm totally going to be doing something similar so I can lower the water bill! Of course, need to check local laws to make sure it's not illegal to capture rain water like it is in some cities and states. Cheers!

[@homesteadonomics]

Canadian Sasquatch Brewery Thanks CSB! My dad likes it a lot and it's soooo simple:) I'm also going to be showing my whole house rainwater system very soon too:) So stay tuned! As for cities and states that ban rainwater collection. I'd try to stay away from places if you can. Obviously if you can't, then I guess you'll have to make do or work within the parameters. But I still can't understand the mentality of politicians who propose legislation like that... sad really. If you look at the amount of 'impermeable' ground (roads, buildings, driveways, parking lots, etc,.) in cities and suburban areas, the act of collecting rainwater only helps in groundwater replenishment that has been negated by the addition of such surfaces. Many cities have made nearly 50% of the ground surface impossible from any rainwater absorption whatsoever. Which contributes to flooding that may have never happened had the rainwater had a place in which to settle and absorb. Whooaaa! I gotta stop now;) LOL sorry for my soapbox rant... anyways, thanks for watching and I look forward to your new videos as well CSB! Joe

[@Canadiansasquatchbrewery]

homesteadonomics LOL yeah, I've the same soapbox rant about it as well! When I heard about people going to jail for collecting rain water, I was just blown away by it. And as such, do want to avoid those places to live in! Was suppose to have a video up this week of me bottling a bunch of stuff, but threw my back out on my first bottling attempt and as such, no videos and was laid up on the couch for 3 days! Will try to get something up soon though, I have several things I want to show!

[@Brian-gx7yx]

should be wrap in black plastic so nothing will grow inside

I can get a used good condition tote delivered to my house for approx 35usd. Thanks for the idea

[@homesteadonomics]

sounds like a good deal! go for it:) joe

[@lightningbolt2832]

I missed how he gets the water in is the top open?

[@dakota4714]

Hey Joe, in my local rainwater collecting course offered at the county extension office they were pretty adamant that a first flush system is necessary. I live in FL so the foliage is probably a lot more signigicant here than in Arizona. Does this have any way to flush the lines away from the tank?

[@TRPGpilot]

American obsession with 'first flush' is so amusing. This is for watering garden produce, not a hospital drinking water supply. Keep it simple!

[@2FollowHim777]

Does it overflow? Get dirty?

[@kayastar826]

can share the specifics on the attachment for the hose?

[@theoriginalkeepercreek]

I am not from Arizona, we are in FL. Did not know that you got enough rain to even collect enough for a IBC!

[@homesteadonomics]

+keepercreek Yes, it's not a ton... but it's pretty amazing what an inch of rain will amount to given enough square footage. Check out my whole house rainwater system tour if you get a chance... I have about 12,00 gallons of capacity and it supplies me about 90-95% of my total yearly water usage:) Thanks for watching! Joe

[@theoriginalkeepercreek]

Thanks for the follow up - will take your advice and watch your video.

[@jagga309]

I waved back

[@r.bracken1727]

how to do you keep algae and other things from forming in the tote?

[@homesteadonomics]

Hi Ryan.. this tote is at my Dads and he just lets it grow...lol... he says it's just extra food for the plants:) But to keep algae at bay you just need to cover the tote to keep light out... you can also add a cap full of bleach every so often as well. Hope that helps Joe

[@carmenmaritzaalicea7333]

Very good idea but you need to show step by step for those who have no idea

[@audreylong9170]

Where'd your Dad source the pvc coupler & spigot?

[@tracyk3567]

For his particular tote, they are just 2" PVC couplers you would get at Home Depot or Menards or Lowes. One to fit on the tote threads and one that goes inside of that that has a 3/4" garden hose thread. Some totes need a special kind of fitting called a cam lock. The brand name is usually "Gator" and you can find those at Tractor supply or Fleet Farm etc.

[@cbluebeard]

i just picked up a couple of these tanks off of craigslist. Mine had Vitamin E oil in them. Do you have a suggestion on a product i can use to break-down and remove the remaining oil?

[@homesteadonomics]

cbluebeard hmmm, I'd probably use a good mix of dawn dish soap and hot water. If you know anyone with a heatable pressure washer that'd probably be the best and easiest way to go.... of course you gotta find somebody with one first:) Thanks for watching and let me know how they come out!

[@islandgardener158]

Take it to the car wash remove the valve tip it over so the water can run out and spray hot water in through the top, takes about 15 min. No soap bubbles never go away.

[@broderickproeger4025]

I have to ask the obvious question which no one else seems to have asked. How the heck do you lift an IBC that high onto the blocks? Do you have to have a crane?

[@homesteadonomics]

Hi Broderick... when empty an IBC isn't much more than 100lbs or so. So two average sized guys can lift them easily. After you have water in them it get MUCH heaveier:) joe

[@alex46215]

whattt??????

[@darrenmackay2083]

ya not heavy at all haha

[@yaima0901]

$3.01 each block now gotta love inflation 🤣🤣🤣

[@nb4776]

can u please tell me the dimension of this toat with frame? thanks

[@homesteadonomics]

+N B Hi NB... I'm not at my dad's right now but those dimensions should be around 40x48x46H. Hope that helps:) Joe

[@TRPGpilot]

Dimensions are 1 metre wide x 1.2 metres long and 1.2 metres tall holding 1000 litres and a net weight of water of 1000 kilogrammes or 1 tonne.

[@charleshuth4567]

Have three of these SCHUTZ totes but standard 2" PVC fittings are not the correct thread size! The cap on the valves are labeled 21/8" BSP. No fittings purchased so far match up to the threads. Wasted about $30.00 on fittings so far.

[@homesteadonomics]

Charles Huth oh man, that's no good...sorry to hear. have your tried amazon or ebay to find an adapter? My dads and my tote at my house can with a threaded adapter that we were able to mate to standard fittings pretty easily. Hope you find the right fitting soon:)

[@theoriginalkeepercreek]

+Charles Huth -please let me know if and where you find them. We have the same problem - used a plastic snap on coffee can lid (slightly bigger than the opening so we can't "snap" it on) and put a solid fire brick on top to hold it down in the wind.

[@TRPGpilot]

BSP stands for British Standard Pipe and the IBC that you were using was most likely British. But you must have figured that out in the last 8 years 🙂

[@helidodge]

OK Joe, now can you tell me what the friction loss will be at the end of your Dad's longest hose? What is that formula? Q squared x c x L, right? LOL I have a friend I worked with in HEMS He was a Bat Chief (now retired) at a FD in DFW area. He taught me that and sporadically quizzed me on it. LOL Jarrett

[@homesteadonomics]

helidodge hahaha.. I only know the coefficients for 1" , 1.75", 2.5", and 5" hoses as those are the ones we carry on our trucks:) A 1" booster line coefficient is something like 15.5 so I'm guessing a garden hose would be like 30+.... but I'm just guessing;) Also, did you friend go over field hydraulics with you? Like the rules of 4's, drop 10 method, etc,. And to your original question about the FL for the garden hose... I haven't a clue...lol! Joe

[@helidodge]

Ha no he realized he was dealing with someone (me) who wasn't smart enough to be a FF let alone a driver/engineer. As to the garden hose, I don't imagine your dad will be putting out any fires with the tote system

[@homesteadonomics]

helidodge aw... don't sell yourself short:) I know a lot of FF's that are not the 'sharpest tools' in the shed...lol... just gotta be committed to that goal is all that it is:)

[@kabzikGNIEZNO]

you need to separate those blocks from the ground. Put some plastic

[@homesteadonomics]

+kabzikGNIEZNO Thanks for the tip and for watching:)

[@kabzikGNIEZNO]

nice and simply, that's what I like, greate job :)

[@deanesbamboogardenboggis2724]

1

[@alex46215]

why not put a tote...on another tote :) double water collection, no blocks needed

[@RangerOberon]

Alex Jones there would be good pressure on tree top but the bottom one would need effort to pump it anywhere

[@gregmarquis1886]

what about the overflow. you better do something about that or your gonna have one hell of a mess on your hands

[@yarpos]

anything and everything except buy a water tank designed for the job

[@TRPGpilot]

These are designed to transport and store fluids. and are cheap and readily available.

[@flokijhdfjkvnhsdfjkl]

Have an ass hole neighbor that has over 50 of these lined up and stacked between our properties ,, And he has Created a Skunk -Rat -and Mouse habitat with these . Last year mosquito control fined him for not keeping them air sealed . These are a potential health hazard it not properly handled

[@homesteadonomics]

+fret master Sorry to hear that Fret. My dads (as are mine) is lifted up so there is no habitat for pack rats/ skunks, etc,. And he has a cap on it most of the year and mosquito screen around the inlet during our rainy seasons.... so mosquitoes are not a problem at all. Anyways, hope you neighbor gets some of those problems remedied soon:)

[@kamerad4212]

No first flush, no covering, and man I would NOT stand close to that death trap!!

[@Noah_E]

Non potable = no need for a first flush. It's clearly in the shade = no need for a cover. And it has plenty of support on all four corners that rest on the solid concrete slab from the car port = very stable base.