Back in the 80's, I had a coworker who had a few acres of land on the outskirts of town in southern New Mexico. On it, he had a pecan orchard. The orchard had it's own well. What was interesting was that he had installed a water tower for the orchard. The orchard well was powered by an old fashioned wind mill with an electric pump as backup. The windmill was strong enough to pump the water from the ground and to the tank (about 20 feet high). When I asked him why the 'antique', he said electricity costs money, the wind is free. Remember, back then, solar cells were expensive and not as good as today's. It might be an option for those who have land where the wind is fairly steady.
@CountryLivingExperienceАй бұрын
Very cool. I wish I lived in a windy area. I think a windmill would be a great addition for something like that.
@westerncowhand78148 күн бұрын
Actually, almost all of Oregon has a very long drought almost all summer long. Same for western Washington, that's why they have evergreen trees not so much deciduous trees. The size of cistern for this area is absolutely enormous if you are thinking of summer irrigation.
@zuzax16568 күн бұрын
@@westerncowhand7814 That would depend upon the system used for irrigation. There, he used a buried drip system. Essentially, like a surface drip system, but buried about 3-4 inches under the surface. Because it is buried it doesn't evaporate as quickly as surface drip or sprinklers in the desert heat and can soak down to the roots. Using less water for equal results. The tank was mostly to provide pressure to get the water through the network of plumbing. The point being that if you can find a way to use water efficiently in a desert, it would probably work nearly anywhere else even better. Learn and adapt, repeat. That is what truly separates us from the other animals.
@gladtidings4all16 күн бұрын
We keeps our under cement shed and blue roof covered. We also have solar water heater and solar water distiller on our cement roof along with wrought iron cage we built on the cement roof to protect from hurricanes. Along with our solar panels for our house and air conditioning. We live in 3.5 acre home on the island. We are retired and we started building our cement house 36 years ago when the economy was good paid cash. I’m a retired nurse, and we didn’t want to live in the states in a cheap wood house. I been married 36 years and we worked hard on our goals. My husband is a workaholic and goal oriented. I learn to do everything in KZbin.
@Off-GridАй бұрын
We've been on 100% rainwater for several years now, set-up videos on our channel. We use it for everything in our homestead. 5000 gal is usually enough unless we have a really dry season.
@keithhughes8010Ай бұрын
Just subscribed to your channel. I look forward to checking it out
@Off-GridАй бұрын
@@keithhughes8010 Thanks. There is a playlist for the water system you should check out.
@GretchenLee-gu5wn12 күн бұрын
@@Off-Grid what is your channel?
@Off-Grid11 күн бұрын
@@GretchenLee-gu5wn The 5th Journey Off-Grid
@gladtidings4all16 күн бұрын
We had ours installed professionally in PR. We have 2 (800) gallons and added water filters I also collect rain water in rain barells for our plants. We keep ours covered when not need to collect water.
@emomuzz588321 күн бұрын
You have saved me countless hours of wasted time and frustration. Thank U !
@CountryLivingExperience21 күн бұрын
You're welcome
@kennethalmond8922Ай бұрын
Good one - very accurate info! We do 3 x 2500gal tanks from roof -> leaf-strainer (same as you showed) -> 300gal 1st flush -> tanks -> shallow well pump -> water worker -> 20micron -> 5micron -> Class A UV and works very well and seems perfectly safe and good tasting water! We collect / use ~18,000gal per year from 2,000sq ft of roof in Southern Oregon. This runs our home for 9 months (~2000gal/month) but May,Jul,Aug,Sep,Oct is low/no rain... but if we conserved a bit, we could go all year. We're entering year 6 of operation and it only takes yearly filter and 1-2yr UV bulb changes - pretty minimal effort. Oregon allows roof (and only roof) capture for individuals. In early years we used 400micron sock in 1st flush for sediment - but it was just a pain to clean and now we skip straight to the 20micron filter. The 20" filters last a whole year (20,000gal) with no trouble - so just change these out each year. Sediment does settle in bottom of the large 2500gal tanks and with intake 6-8" above the bottom we avoid it.
@CountryLivingExperienceАй бұрын
Thanks. Your system sounds awesome!
@kennethalmond8922Ай бұрын
Didn't mean it as having a great system but rather wanted to contribute that rainharvest works *really well*, even if you live in a town like we do. Shallow well pumps, filters, water workers, and even UV are ordinary off-the-shelf plumbing components and the overall system is straightforward. Want to join you in trying to bring down the 'it's too complicated or unsafe or too much maintenance' factor and encourage those on the fence to give it a try :)
@anthonyrstrawbridgeАй бұрын
It's my contention that treatment using Diatomaceous Earth and UV-C sterilization as antimicrobial protection in a clean well maintained rainwater catchment, storage, and distribution system is sufficient for my needs; providing exceptional quality drinking water at a very low cost. Simple filters like fine mesh screen and cotton fabric are perfectly acceptable to clarify and UV sterilize. The activated carbon filtration at the final stage is ideal to control consistent clean taste and smell but I tend to replace it within 30 days to prevent bacterial multiplication. Anyway, I'm relieved of the RO system and filthy contaminated well water.....never have been more pleased than drinking rainwater. 😊
@steve3734123 күн бұрын
Great info. Didn't think about sealing every single point of entry. One suggestion. Stainless steel screen. More expensive but never degrades. And, on the pond, there is a special fish called "mosquitofish" that helps keep mosquitos knocked down.
@CountryLivingExperience23 күн бұрын
Glad it was helpful. Thanks for the heads up on the stainless steel screen.
@steve3734123 күн бұрын
@@CountryLivingExperience Yes sir. Not sure if it's ok to give a recommended vendor for that. Made in the US. Family biz for decades. One I have used.
@CountryLivingExperience23 күн бұрын
@@steve37341 Sure. I always like buying USA made items.
@steve3734123 күн бұрын
@@CountryLivingExperience Darby Wire Mesh
@brocklievsay82623 күн бұрын
any tips or pointers for climates that are really cold in the winter? Perhaps I will have to get burry-able tanks and burry them and add heat tape to the roof, gutters, and corresponding exposed pipes?
@CountryLivingExperience2 күн бұрын
You have the right idea. Buried tanks and heat tape are your best options.
@johnh974819 күн бұрын
One correction. 1000 square feet of roof only collects about 623 gallons per inch of rain. (1000 ft^2)(1/12 ft) = 83.33 ft^3 (83.33 ft^3)(7.48052 gallons/ft^3) = 623.3766 gallons I allow the 23.3766 gallons for initial wetting of the collection surface and the fist-flush (10 gallons minimum for 100 ft^2 collection surface)
@stevepailet8258Ай бұрын
Recently bought a couple of spin down filters after those I have 1 1/2 inch big blue filters first one has a charcoal filter the second on houses ceramic candles these are the same filter as in the Berkey but they are shaped a bit differently Eventually after the ceramics I will put in a uv light The thing to remember about a uv is that the wather has to be clear enough that no water is being shaded by even the smallest sediment or the light might not actually hit whatever is left in the water. The big blue is a 10 inch diameter filter housing.. so they are big. They are made by Doulton filter
@clarencewiles963Ай бұрын
Also check with your community as some locations are illegal. Thumbs up 👍
@Doc1855Ай бұрын
Like WA state, a communist ran state
@craigf3277Ай бұрын
Do it and don't get caught.
@Doc1855Ай бұрын
@@craigf3277 We have a nosey neighbor who (we wish were dead) that squeals on everyone. Yet he grows weed in his basement
@YoooItsRexАй бұрын
Definitely check to make sure it’s legal first. THEN design/disguise your system appropriately.
@paperburnАй бұрын
@@Doc1855 sounds to me like you can negotiate an accord
@RedFlyerMediaАй бұрын
No e explanation! I live in an rv park, but the owner is a homesteader with a similar system for his home. I am talking with him about a small set up for my spot. Fingers crossed he ok’s the idea & design.
@andrewsackville-west1609Ай бұрын
Just want to point out that *parts* of Oregon get lots of rain. Most of Oregon does not get much rain, and *all* of Oregon gets *no* rain at all for months in the summer. Thus, for truly effective rain collection, you need enough water stored to span that dry spell.
@CountryLivingExperienceАй бұрын
Every place is different. Everyone is encouraged to do their own research as to the rainfall in their area. As a whole, Oregon gets more rainfall than the majority of the rest of the country sans New Hampshire and South Florida.
@andrewsackville-west1609Ай бұрын
@@CountryLivingExperience yes, and I don't mean to imply otherwise. You said that in Oregon, because of our heavy rainfall, you don't need a lot of storage. I'm only suggesting that in fact it's the opposite. One needs a lot of storage to get through the dry period.
@GlenHazmatTrahan27 күн бұрын
Thanks for the video. We had 10,650 gallons of outside storage and another 3K under the crawlspace for emergencies (think February 2021) and still would watch the collection tank overflow in our NW of Houston household collection system. A couple ideas you may not have considered-we had our tanks in the shaded woods so we painted the tanks forest green but we also painted our above ground PVC piping which made it blend in AND protected it from UV damage. The other thing we learned from the purveyor of Cloud Juice out in Fredricksburg we learned about the importance of collection and holding tanks being separate, and taking the clearest water from the collection tank to keep the holding tank even cleaner.
@CountryLivingExperience26 күн бұрын
Thank you. I appreciate your thoughts re: painting the pvc.
@Sonny-ik9rvАй бұрын
Believe that having a fountain or pump in your ponds will help control the mosquito issues because they can't lay eggs in moving water.
@CountryLivingExperienceАй бұрын
@@Sonny-ik9rv yes, that will help too.
@meljordan22011 күн бұрын
Plus it adds air to the water for the fish if you have fish.
@Moes_Prep_and_TechАй бұрын
One thing I love about your Channel is that you Talk about More than Solar, (I'm all solared out at the moment lol) and there is more to surviving then just Free Energy. I need to Up my Game and Enjoy Seeing your thoughts and Opinions about other things in Self Presevervation, I need to Up my Water Game and start growing my own food in the space that I have.
@CountryLivingExperienceАй бұрын
I appreciate that. Keep moving forward with all the other aspects of self sufficiency.....you can do it!
@ldygzlle1291Ай бұрын
Great job on this video. Concise and informative. I had a berkey for years until I tested the water. More ppm after the berkey than before filtering. I now use a zero pure because Science is not an opinion. Please test your water and don’t just buy a filter because someone said it was good but didn’t provide evidence. And if you still want a berkey I have one for sale cheap
@gladtidings4all16 күн бұрын
We use those dunks too
@malachiarmenta611810 күн бұрын
Do you have any recommendations on systems that would be used to pump the harvested rainwater to power the home or agriculture sites? All new to me. Thank you
@CountryLivingExperience10 күн бұрын
I am not sure how that would be done. Sorry
@aylarobinson55612 күн бұрын
Thank you so much God Bless you.
@melvinbush3852Ай бұрын
I have a pool pump on mine 400 pound to filter the water from my 250 gallon tank to the tanks I use
@WalterPidgeonsForge22 күн бұрын
I wonder how much roofing material choice affects the water quality.. It seems that asphalt shingles would release som toxic/damaging things as they get heat cycled and that those things would pass through any screens.. It seems like metal roofing would be a better choice if you had it to make.
@CountryLivingExperience22 күн бұрын
It affects it. Metal is best. It is all about your filtration after the fact.
@commonsense24618 күн бұрын
Our system is just like your, but we have 2 5K tanks, same set up as you. We use a German Wize VOrtex filter and then UV and standard cannister filters 5micron and 2 micron I think. We test our water once a year, it's always 99% pure and bacteria free. We've never come close to running out of water.. Arkansas has plenty of rain.
@CountryLivingExperience18 күн бұрын
Awesome!
@stevepailet8258Ай бұрын
remember that gravity can really be your friend.. With this in mind try to mount your tanks as high above your outlets as possible.. This is why cities build water towers or mount tanks as high as they are able to. This also means build your roof at a high point on your property. You will get about 40 pounds of pressure if you can mount your tanks up say 100 ft above you highest outlet.
@gretafields4706Ай бұрын
I have small pressure pumps in the basement. I installed my own. Water comes into my basement at 40 lbs psi from gravity. When it goes through the pump, an air bladder squashes the water down under pressure and releases it to the house at 40-60 lbs. Psi. It has plenty volume. You dont want it over 60 or it may blow the lines apart, causing leaks where you glued line together.
@johnh974819 күн бұрын
The hydrostatic head pressure of water is 0.433 psi/foot of head. a 100 foot hydrostatic head would be needed to supply water at 40 psi after friction reduction in the pipes.
@draperone371Ай бұрын
Thank you ❤ 😊
@ridingvenusАй бұрын
2:54 what about Pahoa & other areas of Hawaii?
@CountryLivingExperienceАй бұрын
Suppose I should have said continental US.
@juliehorney995Ай бұрын
Tu. Can you talk about types of roofs and their contaminants? Right now from our asphalt roof we are using the rain water only for ornamental plants.
@CountryLivingExperienceАй бұрын
Since we have filtration after the collection (including the berkey in the house), I am not really worried about it. Metal roofs are the best for low contamination however.
@EK--ry3lrАй бұрын
I don't know if I knew you were also in East Texas! We sure aren't having issues with low rain this year 😂
@CountryLivingExperienceАй бұрын
No issues at all. More rain in July than I have seen in the past 8 years.
@gladtidings4all16 күн бұрын
We don’t have open water. Our cisterns are grey color.
@umustbbornagainActs2-38Ай бұрын
Just ordered 2 chemguard black 500 gallon tanks. Gonna build a water tower from 4" sch 40 pipe and put one up high for pressure and the otter down low to catch rainwater and water from the creek nearby. Gonna figure the rest as i go
@CountryLivingExperienceАй бұрын
Awesome!
@davej7458Ай бұрын
In my part of Oregon we have rain for six months and no rain for six months. If your rain water collection is the primary water system or is a real backup system it requires alot of storage. Tanks as you can afford them is the obvious way to go. How do you protect your tanks and collector pipes in the winter.
@CountryLivingExperienceАй бұрын
Fortunately we don't really have to protect the pipes too much here in the winter. The pump and pipes connecting to it will be enclosed and insulated for this winter since that is new.
@rosa632Ай бұрын
Thank you for sharing. Do you have a step by step build video?
@CountryLivingExperienceАй бұрын
You're welcome. At the end of the video, I linked the entire playlist of the build videos.
@10InchSnow15 күн бұрын
So inspiring!!
@squirrel1179Ай бұрын
It's just a random idea, and I'm not sure if it's worth the power consumption or not. What about installing a circulatory pump with a filter on the storage tanks, kind of like on a cheap above ground pool to help pre-filter fine sediment and if any bugs do get in. I would assume you'd only have to run the pumps a couple of hours a day.
@CountryLivingExperienceАй бұрын
That would be a good added layer but not sure about the payoff since we have all the other filtration.
@jimoray3Ай бұрын
Great content as usual. Many blessings
@Ctobefree22 күн бұрын
How do you remove the nano nano and what is sprayed in air that lands in it?
@CountryLivingExperience22 күн бұрын
Multiple layers of filtration
@mgoh1984Ай бұрын
Harvesting rainwater is great if you can, but the best water for irrigation is from rivers or ponds, then rainwater.
@NatureZone101Ай бұрын
Very helpful. My question, which many people don't seem to address is about droppings on the roof? Birds, Squirrels, etc and going to leave feces / urine on the roof no matter how hard people try to keep it clean. How is all of that addressed properly to the highest degree of safety?
@CountryLivingExperienceАй бұрын
The multiple filters I pointed out collect a vast majority of the sediment from those things you mention. At then end of the system we have a Berkey filter to purify for drinking. Some people use a small amount of bleach in the tank or a UV light treatment system.
@NatureZone101Ай бұрын
@@CountryLivingExperience Thanks
@gretafields4706Ай бұрын
Yes. What worries me is the oily or dirty film off of a metal roof. Rsin just doesnt seem to clean off my metsl roofs, ever.
@PaulDukichАй бұрын
What do you do about contaminants in the water from the roof such as bird droppings and such?
@CountryLivingExperienceАй бұрын
With the multiple layers of filtration, I am not worried about it. The Berkey is the last line of defense for us for drinking water.
@PeterLawtonАй бұрын
His first-flush diverter handles the bulk of that, and his Berkey handles the rest.
@sashi5827Ай бұрын
The top mistake is using plastic. Even if you just use it to water the garden your plants take up microplastic into their cells
@IdiotF0olАй бұрын
@sashi5827 you don't have pvc plumbing in your house? Pretty much all plumbing is pvc these days.
@backwardsrun20 күн бұрын
I don't know much about the subject but honestly I think your onto something, what other material would you use that is water tight, concrete seems toxic, glass seems ideal but could break it humm not sure the answers are.
@sashi582720 күн бұрын
@@backwardsrun you just gotta ask yourself how they would’ve done it 100 years ago. I’d say metal, wood, clay, or you could even make your own out of stone and mortar.
@gynocentrismergomgtowАй бұрын
How have the Berkey filters been performing on your rain harvested water?
@CountryLivingExperienceАй бұрын
Great. No issues.
@kcmgfarm2389Ай бұрын
There wasn't a link in the description for the 2500 gal tanks, how much are they? Love these types of videos Kate
@CountryLivingExperienceАй бұрын
Thanks. We got the tanks through Home Depot. Here is a link to one...homedepot.sjv.io/bax9kv
@appalachianheartsong5487Ай бұрын
@@CountryLivingExperience Lowe’s has a 2500 gal tank (looks nearly identical) for $1800, which is really good since we generally see prices around $1 per gallon.
@keithhughes8010Ай бұрын
Very well done video
@CountryLivingExperienceАй бұрын
Thank you
@iiinsaiiiАй бұрын
Nice system, but you over fill is higher then your fill line. Shouldn’t it be lower? Once it’s fill it will be flowing back out the full line before it reaches the over feel line.
@CountryLivingExperienceАй бұрын
Thank you. It looks like the inflow is higher but it is actually not. It is slightly higher. Camera can be deceiving.
@stever258318 күн бұрын
Interesting system... Inefficient though! Collection, Filtration, Storage - you need focus. Collection is simple right - Not so much. When you collect with just simple slopes you are also collecting all the debris and soils of animal life, pollution, feces from whatever critters get on your slope system. Slow the collection of water down, turbulence just moves tons of debris with the water. Next have a rough filter, Scotch brite is a remarkable collector of debris that is easy to clean. Scotch Brite's come in many sizes. On your slope have a screen, under that have the scotch brite's, under that have a wash board system. Don't think of this system as necessarily vertical - angled is better but the basic angle should be no more than 45 deg. With any luck the world where you life has nothing else to throw at your collection. The screen diverts the large debris, the Scotch Brite's collect bits of leaves, bird feces, bugs etc. And then the washboard - you want it to divert the water over it yet have the washboard at a slight angle at right angle to the basic slope. (that angle removes the sand and grit that clogs everything if given a chance. At this point you have close to 95% of the debris filtered out. Next comes the true filtration, I would suggest a 3 stage in diminishing diameters. Get the best system you can afford here. Direct the water into the clean storage tanks. Keep the entirety of the system critter free - even mosquitos and smaller. Use micro screens where possible ( they are made of Stainless Steel and come in unbelievably fine mesh. The entrance to the storage must be clean, sealed and somewhat critter proof. If you can keep your over flo away from the ceiling of the storage1-2 inches is plenty.Condensation combined with any life form can create a hazard you do not expect. @ 2 inches from the bottom of the storage have a connection tree (large hose connection for irrigation, regular hose connection, and a small diameter connection attached to a clear poly tube that you keep attached to the storage vertically. That is your storage capacity meter.
@lfuqua98129 күн бұрын
Should one put chemicals in the tank to keep it free from algae?
@CountryLivingExperience29 күн бұрын
You should get the black tanks so that algae doesn’t grow in the first place. You can add a few caps of bleach if you like
@arthouse9696Ай бұрын
Great video, thanks! I’m wondering how long you can safely store the water with this set up (dark tanks, screens and secure openings, Dunkits)? Do you have to do anything else or add anything else for it to last 6 months or more? maybe up to 8 months? Thinking of subtropical regions with an actual monsoon season of 4 to 5 months with the rest of the year dry.
@CountryLivingExperienceАй бұрын
You're welcome. I honestly don't know what the longevity of the water would be. I have never researched that. Theoretically, you can filter any water not matter how old it is.
@arthouse9696Ай бұрын
Thanks 😊
@Roninphoto19 сағат бұрын
Just found your channel. Moving to Texas and want a rain water carmtchment system. If I need help in setting one up who should I seek out?
@CountryLivingExperience16 сағат бұрын
Welcome to Texas. I advocate all DIY on my channel. I do it all myself so I don’t know of anyone. Sorry
@Roninphoto4 сағат бұрын
@CountryLivingExperience Thanks for the response. On critical high ticket projects I don't trust myself.
@honeybee6674Ай бұрын
Should I build it on the high of my property? There is no structure out there. Can I send you a picture of my property so you see how it is shaped? I guess I would have to have a plumber put it together.
@CountryLivingExperienceАй бұрын
It all depends. You need a roof to collect it. If it is going to be too cost prohibitive to build a structure with a roof at the high point and then add a water tank, then don't do it. I might add it next to your house, collect rainwater off the existing roof, and add a pump. That will cost a lot less I am sure.
@troydefond2307Ай бұрын
the Berkeley is not great. I would look into it. y'all need some type of uv filter for ur drinking water for it to he safe.
@CountryLivingExperienceАй бұрын
Berkey is better than most. I have looked at many. I know UV is good, I may add that in the lineup.
@springflowerdark2137Ай бұрын
Could you link the filteration parts? I did not see those listed
@CountryLivingExperienceАй бұрын
Sorry, yes. Here they are: Parts Used In This Video: Norwesco 2500 gallon Rainwater Collection Tank: www.homedepot.com/p/Norwesco-2500-Gal-Black-Vertical-Water-Tank-40631/206479621 Blue Mountain Co. Rainwater Harvest Parts: Leaf Eater: amzn.to/3F49NxR First Flush:amzn.to/3zRM28d Over Flow: amzn.to/2ZMHWC8 Tank Level Guage: amzn.to/3CWWbmb 3" PVC Pipe and elbows as needed. 1.5" PVC Pipe, 1.5" male threaded to female slip, 90 degree elbow, 1.5" DWV (Dish Washer) Trap Adapter Vent
@mikeeggleston176920 күн бұрын
What part of east Texas?
@CountryLivingExperience20 күн бұрын
We are near Tyler
@dellmerlin6328Ай бұрын
I live in a dryer climate. Is it a good or bad idea to collect rain water from a solar panel array?
@CountryLivingExperienceАй бұрын
Absolutely. It is glass on the solar panels you would be collecting from.
@user-kl4vd4gg3uАй бұрын
For my pond I have stocked Gambusia Holbrooki native to the SE US and Florida for mosquito control. I don't want to be "that guy" who introduced an invasive species, and Florida already has too many ecologically detrimental invasive species unfortunately :/
@CountryLivingExperienceАй бұрын
Very cool
@Lydiak2016Ай бұрын
Can you paint tanks to kept algae out of tanks
@CountryLivingExperienceАй бұрын
Yes. You will probably need several coats of paint.
@Lydiak2016Ай бұрын
Ok thanks
@jameslee-dp6cb22 күн бұрын
I'm glad it's working for right now, but you need to understand something. Rain water won't work in the future unless you treat the water. As more methane erupts from the Arctic tundra, it rises into the upper atmosphere where it traps 10 X more heat than CO2. As temperatures rise more and more methane will erupt. Methane has a life cycle of about 10 years. This means it stays in the upper atmosphere for about a decade. Then it mixes with water vapor and rains down as acid rain. In sufficient amounts, rain water will become toxic. You will need to mix the rainwater with limestone to remove the acid in the water. A PH reading will have to be monitored carefully. Be aware, too much lime is not good either. A charcoal system would help as well. Charcoal has a way of neutralizing the PH of water. Good luck.
@gretafields470618 күн бұрын
I live in coal mining area. We get pollution from northern cities in the air too. Something made the rain actually reddish one day. I had dishes sitting in the yard. The rain fell in them. It wasnt from a well. I guess it was acid rain???
@dmark6699Ай бұрын
Good investment for emergencies. Do you use cloramine in your water?