Rainwater Harvesting

[@66block84]

From the land of 10,000 lakes, a great tip of the hat to you for making it work where you are!

[@joelvillanueva784]

🤣😂🤣😂. I enjoy your explanation very much. Thank you for all the information you have shared. You rock. The last u said with flushing the toilet. 😂🤣.

[@kumara5492]

I'll setup something like this once I get a piece of land. Thank you.

[@jimh712]

After watching this video.. It makes rain water harvesting formula easier It goes something like this Your yearly needs Divided by aveage yearly rain fall Equals sq ft. of roof.. Seems a good place to start.. You've helped shorten my learning curve

[@isaackarjala7916]

That would be the upper boundary on how much collection surface you'd need, and it'd be correct if you got all your annual rainfall in a short period. If you really wanted to work it out in a spreadsheet, and I might do that when I get off work

[@jimh712]

I'm in the learning curve For the rest of my life.. Was pondering the first rain washing the dirt off the roof.. What you have set up is so simple and doesn't waste... And the float is inexpensive and simple 😉

[@donaldpedigo296]

....There You Go....You're answering my Water Questions.....Good Work Young Man....You are an Industrious Soul....I have never had a Primer on Collecting Rainwater....Thanks for the Information....I'll be watching several of your videos....Best to You....

[@raulmorales7155]

when I built a swimming pool for my son, the building inspector adviced I paint teh white PVC where ever the sun might hit it. seems the sun deteriorates the pvc. so consider that if you want your pvc to last a long time.

[@urgentcareguy3]

Impressive set-up, particularly with the location you are in. Once one divorces themselves from the Dream that we have been sold by Marketers, one becomes wealthy (quality of life) and renewed. The Road Less Traveled is the best Road.

[@paulotr]

Hi, I grew up in the Chihuahua Desert just East of the park and have a rainwater system for my home near Kerrville. I started with 3 inch pipe and had to remodel to 4 inch throughout the system because of gulley washer performance water loss.

[@christianblicher1358]

This is the first system that i see that has a barrel in the first flood system. Nice! -i´m planning on a simular solution.

[@RubenFletcher]

Great video Robert! I'll be putting your methods to good use soon enough. We, Nikki and I, had to cut some feathers tonight. One of my leghorn hens decided to jump the fence and visit the neighbor tonight. I'm hoping to have eggs the end of October. That'd put these girls right at nine months old. Take care Robert, tell Debbie we said hello from Corpus.

[@ecoranchusa]

Ruben Fletcher Thanks Ruben!!! Great to hear from you!

[@herwoofnessbostonterrier3420]

I love you, you tell it like it really is.......enough to hopefully prevent people from making a mega mistake!!!!! I made it through the intro video and went on to the rainwater collection. Very, very interesting and informative. Planning to continue to follow your vids to the end. When do I get to meet the wife and see the house????? Being a woman, those things are very nice to see and meet. No I am not planning to move to the desert but I like learning things and with such an enthusiastic teacher it encourages me to continue. Desert living is not for the faint of heart ❤️ . Bottle house.....unique, can’t wait to see more. Praying you will be blessed with rain ☔️. Jane and her wacky sidekick Lola, the Boston Terrier

[@ecoranchusa]

You can visit any time you are in the area! Thanks for the compliments!

[@ecoranchusa]

I am not seeing your other comment here..... but, to answer it. America had cycles after each war where we forget what Liberty is, because the Veterans were to old or dead. Recent conflicts have not involved as many people as the "big" ones did, though they were just as horrible. The point is this: the young, in this case the "Millennials" , need to be reminded that "Freedom is not Free" and WE point the direction the country goes with OUR votes. There was no war.... yet..... but they learned anyway when they sat in "Fivebucks" drinking coffee and texting instead of voting. The current debacle in our White House is THEIR fault and they know it! They learned that in order for the polls to be accurate, they actually have to vote and MAKE the polls accurate. No we, the Supreme Court and the World are at the mercy of a TV reality star, instead of an experienced leader. 2018 and especially 2020 WILL be a different story.

[@scottheller1663]

@@ecoranchusa we had a WH debacle either way. The thought of the other one chills me to the bone.

[@carlcandiano1517]

Good job

[@poopypuppyproductions7409]

With all that wind I'm hearing, you'd think that your "windmills" would be turning more than just the one. lol

[@RRrrRRrrlandfin]

6:50 “I don’t care what but crack building inspectors tell you....” explosive laughter here:) thanks

[@dafringe]

Maybe I missed it, but I hope your metal roofing is rated for rainwater harvesting. If not, the metal in the roofing material will leach and you will end up with a lot of that metal in your water -- a lot of tin from tin roofs, a lot of copper from copper roofs, etc. -- which would not be ideal for your health.

[@ecoranchusa]

Great point!!! My salesman and I discussed this when we started and the metal I bought IS good for harvesting potable rainwater! Thanks!

[@dafringe]

@@ecoranchusa Okay. I should have known you were on top of it! :) BTW, thanks for all the videos.

[@johnd4348]

In my county in Texas the county will give you tax credits and reduce your property taxes if you put in a rain water harvest system. A water harvest system cost about 5 thousand dollars. A well cost about 25 to 30 thousand. We can get 3 to 8 inches of rain in a few hours when it rains. We got 14 inches in one hour one time.

[@scottyg4605]

The Wind blowing up and the only wind turbine to be working was the one with 5 blades 😕 that's because these are the most efficient number of blades to have on a wind turbine. Just something else to think about

[@ecoranchusa]

It was actually because that turbine's PMA was burned out and there was no resistance, so it was free-spinning in a light wind.

[@rongray4118]

You know - The Rooster is just agreeing with everything you're saying, right?! LOL!!

[@foamformbeats]

This may be slightly un-economical but what do you think about building a large roof that connects from posts to a shipping container that holds water storage and/or general storage? I was thinking of excuses to just make a large roof surface for water that was at least somewhat above ground level (to avoid extra coarse filtering)

[@ecoranchusa]

You really just make what suits YOU. One guy in Arizona built a 6000 square foot "rain roof" that is was complicated as a pole barn to build. The only reason I can think of to build a habitat for rattlesnakes like than (so low to the ground) and not an actual shade shelter, would be the restrictive building codes in Arizona. But to me, it seems a spectacular was of money and effort. In the desert you need ALL the shade you can create and shade is rainwater catchment potential as well.

[@iwoman3174]

natures head composting toilet. we have two. we love them. in that heat it would compost fast. Two people, once a month change out, takes 6mnths to fill one of those black tubs with the yellow lids. then out to compost pile to create earth for your growing needs. no we do not have any smell.

[@ecoranchusa]

Humanure and composting toilets work only as well as the people who have them maintain them. Wonderful in theory!!! But humans get lazy.... lazy makes shortcuts.... shortcuts breed cholera. This is why I recommend a septic system for 90% of people.

[@bradhorner]

My humanure has worked. Ultra low tech. If it smells then it's not working right. Mine would run cold, start to barely smell, then I corrected it. So yes, it requires being proactive. It reached 150 degrees for long enough to kill pathogens.

[@SurfviewTV]

In you "Re-Greening" video, you disabled the comments, so, I found this one since the topic was close to what was being discussed. In that video, you recommended Brad Lancaster's RAINWATER HARVESTING volumes. You also mentioned a fellow in Africa - someone who Brad Lancaster found pivotal for his understanding of machine-less earthworks water management. You said in the video that you thought the fellow Brad learned from was from Ethiopia. I believe that the country was Zimbabwe and that the fellow was Zephaniah Phiri Maseko - often referred to as "Phiri". Here are some KZbin videos thaf feature that water collection pioneer kzbin.info/www/bejne/mYmvdWOXoLmgqKs I really like your first flsuh system and explanaiton. Thanks again for the great videos.

[@ecoranchusa]

You are right. Sometimes when I am in a hurry, the exact detail is not as important as the message, so I did not look that up then.

[@johnd4348]

No building codes in Terlinqua I suspect.

[@ecoranchusa]

No codes in unincorporated Brewster county. THAT is the benefit to living here.

[@jasonnabors5045]

Do you have to boil your water before consumption? Or is that what the bleach is for?

[@ecoranchusa]

We do NOT have to boil this water, it is purer than anything in bottles. HOWEVER, it is always a good idea to be safe, so I do add a few drops of bleach per gallon of water, whether it is rainwater or added creek water. The chlorine goes away in a day or two, but would kill any bad things if there were any.

[@jasonnabors5045]

I actually have been looking at property out there for years. I am well versed in all stages of construction. I own a small commercial construction company and I am getting tired of the direction our country is headed in and I am actually considering pulling the trigger on living off grid. I just recently finished remodeling a light house off the Lydia Anne channel in Port Aransas so I do have first hand knowledge of your first wash cycle you have on your water storage tanks. They however spent a ton of money on the UV filtration and desalination system they are using. I like your cost effective method much better.

[@Michael-ft3rc]

I bet its hell to dig out there

[@ecoranchusa]

Most places it is. We are in the ancient creek bed (uplifted), so while there are rocks in the soil, we are pretty clear for 6-12 feet down. I can dig and it is about 50% harder than in sand.

[@buddyphelps9692]

how do you filter your water before you drink it or cook with it? I would like to build something like this but want to know the water I drink is safe to drink

[@ecoranchusa]

+Buddy Phelps Water is inherently safe to drink, UNTIL Man fouls it! This "all water is unsafe to drink" mindset is a result of the second worst all-time scam that Man has perpetrated on Mankind: "water must come from a plastic bottle and cost several dollars a gallon, in order to be safe or even taste good." Rainwater from the sky is as pure as it gets and is even purer that distilled water. Yes, in heavily polluted urban areas, like Beijing, it could hit the ground carrying particles and heavy metals (Man has fouled it). But if that were the case, you have a LOT more to worry about that contaminants in the water! However, IF it picked up "particles" and if the surface the water was collected from was not completely flushed it could pick up "stuff". However, it STILL would be better to use than most of the water used in the world today! As a "just in case" precaution, since we are all aware of typhus & cholera, as well as amoebic intestinal issues, here is what we do to make our water 100% safe: from the roof, it has a "first flush" that captures the first 15 gallons of rainwater that could have dust, bugs and bird crap in it; then, after each rain, we pour some bleach into the tanks: 2-3 drops for every gallon collected; I also hang a local plant: damiana, also known as "the antibiotic plant" in the tanks for 2-3 days from time to time; the last thing we do is that we have two, 50 micron filters on the waterline as it enters the pressurized part of the system. We have NEVER had any issues with the water! One more thing though, the human body evolved to have certain "flora" working in our digestive/intestinal systems. The ultra cleanliness of most people, as well as the foods they consume, in many Western urban areas, coupled with the ignorant "cleansing" of these systems by "New Age" type, pseudo-medical "practitioners", has killed off quite a bit of these beneficial bacterias. This leaves people without immunities to many Natural illnesses. We also theorize that NOT living close to your livestock (protein sources) and NOT butchering them yourselves, is another way we have eliminated many beneficial bacteria from our bodies. While people in Asia that live & sleep with their chickens ARE the first to get H5N1, should it ever enter the human mainstream, we believe those same people would survive it in far greater numbers due to their proximity immunities. Your answer is in there! But so is a lot of good common sense information! PEOPLE, STOP BEING SCAMMED INTO BOTTLED WATER!!!!!

[@Mike-wh7zy]

how did you pump the water in an what type of filter system did you use

[@ecoranchusa]

Mike 6679 It is a simple 110 volt pump attached after the tanks, and before the filters. The filters are two, 100 micron filters.

[@robertottwell605]

Do you run your water for drinking thru a filter system?

[@ecoranchusa]

The water is treated with bleach after a big rain, or if we bring it in from the creek. Then it is filtered through two filters. One is a 50 micron media and the other is a 5 micron charcoal filter.

[@neftalirosado5363]

if you install a 11 to 13W Submersible Aquarium Pond Fish Tank UV Sterilizer Light Clarifier Lamp, you can drink the water because all the bacterias will be killed by the UV light just add a sediment filter to it..

[@ecoranchusa]

WAYYYY TOO MUCH WORK!!!!!! Three drops of bleach per gallon works fine for all water EXCEPT rainwater. Rainwater, is pure when it falls. It needs NOTHING!!!!!!!!!

[@neftalirosado5363]

It is a misconception that rain water is pure, as rain falls it pickup all the impurities from the air if you don't believe me just have the rain water tested for micro bacteria. I know the bleach does work but again is another chemical that is introduce in the body. Hey your video is great I was just trying to bring another way to purify the water.

[@ecoranchusa]

K.I.S.S. is one of our main mantras: KEEP IT SIMPLE STUPID. Bleach and a particle filter work just fine! It is OK to agree with people! I know the current social media mentality is to disagree or troll everyone, but it is perfectly OK to agree with folks too! No one will think less of you! KISS everything! After nine years here, we are extremely healthy with what we do and we have more money available to do other things with , by NOT going whack job with things like the possibility of "microorganisms". We evolved on a savanna full of them, our bodies can deal with them just fine without going overboard.

[@kumara5492]

@@ecoranchusa I am also into keeping things simple.

[@MissouriWindandSolar]

It's to bad that the people that come up with collecting rain water rules are able to make any rules about it at all, but they do.

[@ecoranchusa]

+MissouriWindandSolar Controlling to population is essential and controlling the food & water is the key. When I was in sales management, we were taught in management training classes that when a salesperson was too successful, they became too independent and thus unmanageable. We were taught to fire them. Individual infrastructure is what we all need to build and do it NOW, before "they" remove the right, incrementally, as Texas has done with farm egg sales!

[@elsiepride4788]

is There a way I could ask you questions about loving off grid?

[@ecoranchusa]

E-mail me with your questions! [e-mail]

[@Tropicalwebsurfer]

Is that a ham radio whip on the roof?

[@ecoranchusa]

It is a CB antenna. We use it for short distance communication. I am a retired truck driver after all!

[@Tropicalwebsurfer]

+eco-ranch.us I never can get anyone of the CB here that's why I like being a ham operator I can cover more distance plus do a little more with the repeaters but I would say look into it.

[@ecoranchusa]

Unless skip is rolling, it is so quiet out here that a legal radio can reach our close to 20 miles. We just use ours to talk to each other when I am close by and for when one of us is riding a horse nearby but out of sight. My PU has a Galaxy in it from the trucking days and the base is a SSB..... but the Galaxy is not. We intended to have two SSB radios, but ran out of money and didn't really need them after all.

[@loradurak8916]

What state are you in?

[@ecoranchusa]

Texas

[@tracyjamestavares3255]

They came up w/ rain water rules cause of people having mosquito infestations in areas . Are water towers native to your area ?. You would need a pump to get the water up to the tank but gravity feed your whole system . Always much luck 2 U an yours

[@ecoranchusa]

Mosquitoes are an issue wherever there is water! But to ban rainwater harvesting, instead of mandating the covering of open cisterns is just a political way to control the people, not protect them from mosquitoes. Think about it.... all the puddles, wetlands, ponds, lakes and so on out there and small open cisterns with rainwater are legislated against???? Politics designed to keep the population dependent on the "water grid".

[@ecoranchusa]

I never answered to water tower question. There are very few. Ground tanks and jet pumps handle the job in this area.

[@paulsoutbackgardenaustrali7674]

you are way smart....what u doing there...go be a senator...

[@ecoranchusa]

Paul, if you have ever watched the TV show "Scorpion", I am a lot like Walter O'Brian. I do not interact well with others, can be a bit pompous and get impatient when others cannot think as quickly as I can. Positively NOT a potential politician!!!!! But, I have many & varied interests and am passionate about preserving the planet and living a "One Planet Lifestyle". The most good I can do as a citizen of Mother Earth, is exactly what I am doing here. I want to share it with all who want to learn and follow. Politics is too slow and too unpredictable, as evidenced by the (hacked) results of the last Presidential election. But thank you sincerely for that comment and you are not the first or even the twentieth to say something similar!!

[@ecoranchusa]

Paul, I think you also asked about why I did not eat the rabbits. I accidentally deleted that question, whoever wrote it, but here is the answer: I have been married since 1973. There was "starter wife" who accompanied me to the Arctic in 1975-6, then headed for the hills in 1978. By then Debbie had grown up and I met and married her. Both women will not eat "bunnies", so I don't try to hunt them for food, though I do have to kill them, as you so in Australia, because they eat my crops. In the Arctic, the rabbits & Arctic Hares actually tasted good. Down south in the lower 48, not so much and we only eat rabbit in months with an "R" in it, because of warm weather worms & parasites. Here in the Chihuahuan, they actually taste quite nasty year around. One famous, local recipe says to clean the rabbit, pack the carcass with horse manure, roast for 3 hours, remove the horse manure, discard the rabbit and eat the manure. This is why I don't eat rabbit. However, they don't go to waste. I put the carcasses in the maggot traps and as they rot and drop maggots on the ground, the chickens gobble up the maggots...... which probably taste far better than the rabbit would!