How to Build a 550 Gallon Rainwater Harvesting System
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- Опубликовано: 22 май 2024
- In this video, I show you how to build an IBC Tote Rainwater Catchment System. This water harvesting system holds 550 gallons of water and can be upgraded to connect more totes. 2023 Build Guide with Parts List/Instructions Available Below!!
NOW AVAILABLE!!!
How to Build a 550 Gallon Rainwater System E-Guide (2023)
www.naturehacker.com/books
ONLY $10 (download link will be sent to you)
INCLUDES
• Step-by-step illustrated building instructions
• A complete Parts List with purchase links (Home Depot, Amazon, etc)
• FAQ of the most common questions from RUclips viewers
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I have been watching this type of videos for over a year. This is the first time that I got a clear explanation of how everything works AND a list of the items I will be needing in order to make this project a reality. Thank you. I have 3 IBC. Totes waiting to be converted into a water collection monster. LOL
Wonderful! I’m glad that it helps you. Three years and still going strong! With three totes, you’ll want to place a few supports under the front pipe that connects the tanks since the pipe will be heavier than if you used two tanks. Otherwise, it shouldn’t need any changes.
@@naturehacker1095 thank you you are awesome. 👍
I second this motion. I finally feel confident to setup my system. We get heavy rains where I live and this overflow system is the best I’ve seen
Nature Hacker , you ARE AWESOME!!!! in this ‘how to video on rain water’
Kudos to you👍👍👍👍
This is an outstanding video, definitely the easiest to understand and best explained video about rainwater catchment ive come across. And this system will be perfect in my allotment here in the uk. Thank you
Great video with a lot of good info but can add a few things, forget a handsaw, a circ saw or a reciprocating saw makes quick work of cutting pipe and you can knock the burrs off easily with a common razor knife faster than sandpaper. Also watch which totes you buy, not all have a 2 inch NPT thread in them, and not all totes have the same connector at the valve there are at least 4-5 variations. A pro tip for glue up on PVC, do the female side first, then you can set it down and not get debris on the glue up surface while you are doing the male end. The black plastic is a good idea, But UV will break it down over time. I use landscape fabric on mine then I install vinyl siding over that, it takes 5 sticks of 12 foot siding to wrap one, I still have not come up with a really good and aesthetically pleasing method for covering the top. I also love the paver base idea, I will be incorporating that into my next bank of totes, some people pour a slab, but in the end despite the weight a single tote only has about 1.6 PSI of ground pressure, so unless you have really soft or wet soil that moves a lot, I dont think its needed. As I said, great video, I hope you dont feel that I am picking at you with this, I am just trying to offer some advise from someone that has done this kind of thing before.
Thank you!
@speedbuggy16v Thanks for the tips. Why do you prefer landscape fabric over black plastic since both will deteriorate from UV? I was thinking of wrapping and topping the IBC with wooden siding. What do you use to top the IBC?
@@pgannon1948 the landscape fabric, at least the stuff I am using is a woven heavy duty type it just seems like it will hold up better in the long run, though I have no proof of that. But either would probably work especially if your vinyl siding over it like I am. In the end I just put steel roofing panels on the top of mine
So far, it's been about 3 years and no sign of degradation from the Sun. EVENTUALLY the day will come. They now sell IBC tote covers on Amazon and other sites that may be a better way to cover the totes, but some appear to be made cheaply and may not last as long as what I am using.
@@naturehacker1095 Impressive, now that you mention it, I have some black plastic over a transmission that has been setting outside about that long that has not shredded either. Glad its still working, cheaper that still accomplishes the goal is always the best in my book!
I enjoy watching any video that shows/talks rain collection.
I put together a 16 - 55 gallon system several years ago. And currently I am swapping it out for 4 - 275 gallon system, which will be expanded to another 8, totaling in at 3,300 gallon capacity.
That’s impressive! Have fun with the new project. 😀
This should be something that homeowners in the west should be using. Florida gets plenty of rain without the need to collect it.
I have built several systems. One system collects water for an off grid rainwater shower. Another is for backup drinking water for hurricanes, other emergencies. I also use it for plant Foliar sprays that require no chlorine. So these systems are very useful here in Florida. But I agree about having a system like this out West. The people who watch this video are largely from that area and I’m probably getting about 20,000 views a month right now. So the desire for rainwater collection is growing! Thanks for watching.
Rarely comment on videos but this is such a great one. Your level of detail and breadth of covering this topic is so good. Thank you so much for taking the time to list out your parts and describing them. I know that took alot of extra work - you set the bar for quality how-to videos. This is the ONLY video most people will need to view to build a rainwater system, which I'm doing for my cabin.
It looks like you've stopped making videos but I think you could be one of those guys who can make serious $ from RUclips.
No wonder he explained it so well because he's a science teacher
Thanks! It takes time making the systems and then going through all the steps to share my process. But in the end, it makes the process SO MUCH easier for everyone else. I also have a poor memory so this video will help me when I make another system! Haha
We need more videos like this!!!
Thank you Nature Hacker. A very organized set of instructions.
You're welcome!
The most informative RUclips video I’ve ever watched, and I’ve seen many. Thank you so much! We are building our system next in Moab Utah.
You could definitely use a system like this in Moab! Good luck with your system. :) I use the water daily for drinking and run it through my Berkey filter. The system is almost a year old and still working great!
Nice detail in your video. You explain things that others assume their viewers will know.
Thanks! I hope it helps you with your future water projects.
Dang...what I could get done with that many helpful friends!!
I will 100% be using this system for my off grid cabin! Only 2 engineering changes I’ll be adding to it will be a 30gallon sand, charcoal filter after the first flush diverter and then a series of progressively finer spin down filters at the outlets and a 12v UV light filter…..of corse this is over engineered but it will be my only source for drinking water.
Sounds great! Yes, this system does a good job filtering out the sediment but adding a natural filtration system for drinking water is the missing piece. My advice is to reconsider adding the sand and charcoal filtration unit after the first flush because they may drastically slow down the flow of water into the totes and you'll end up with a lot of potential drinking water going out the overflow. You want to collect the rainwater as FAST AS POSSIBLE! If the rain collection totes are above your filtration containers, you can use the force of gravity to send the collected water through your filters. You will have to raise your system a few feet higher than the one I built to get the gravity feed going. Depending on the amount of water you need to filter daily, you may choose to use 5 gallon buckets or go big time and use 55 gallon drums which can process 300 liters daily. Check out www.aqsolutions.org/charcoal-biochar-water-treatment/ for inspiration. I hope to add a small filtration system with 5 gallon buckets but if you beat me to it with adding a filtration system, let me know! Share photos. :)
@@naturehacker1095 wow, this link was SO HELPFUL! This is gold for learning to filter water!
Thank You, Nature Hacker & Orlando Permaculture 💚 for so generously sharing this helpful information
Great video! It's almost exactly how my system is built. I might add that sitting rain water can become stagnant and start to smell horribly. I used small fountain pumps inside each tank to remedy this. They run 24/7. You need to make sure to make sure they are at the bottom of the tank and if the tank gets low on water to unplug them or they will burn up! I also installed an RV 110 water pump in line after the tanks to hook up to my water hose. I now have a watering wand hooked up to my tanks with the same pressure you get from your house spigot. The pump turns on when you squeeze the lever on your wand or spray nozzle and turns off when you release it. The pump is hooked up to a light switch so I can turn it on and off as needed. My system also has several inline filters to keep the watering wand from plugging up. I really need to do a video on my system. Maybe this coming spring !
Please do a video showing your setup. That would be do helpful!
Yes, please. Sounds great!
I’m building our system soon at our new house & will add these details. Thanks!
Yes! That’s the next step to building a better system. A vortex inside the tanks that keep water moving to prevent any pathogens fro multiplying and to keep the water from freezing.
@@naturehacker1095 Anything particular?
@@kansasgardener5844 I know my brother in-law has horses and he has a small machine that sits at the bottom of the water tank and stirs the water to keep it from freezing. It sits at the bottom so the horses won't stick their noses deep enough to grab it and pull it out. It would keep your water in a "vortex" pattern: stirred and unfrozen.
Great job!
I use a compound Miter saw to cut the PVC, way easier and dead square!
OMG!! Thank you so much for explaining the set up for the IBC totes.... you're right, I too watched tons of videos & most are so long winded that I click off & then I started watching Australian videos since they have been rain harvesting for many years. I came across your video...thank you, thank you!!!! Very, very helpful. Be well....
You're welcome!
For a more accurate water level check, take a 2'in T at output and place/fix into place a clear plastic tube to the top of the tank. A sight glass.
Putting a clear tube on the side of the system is a great idea but as you probably know, it also exposes the water to the sun and algae will quickly grow. So an important tip to share is to cover the clear plastic tube with a foam tube or something that will cover the clear tube when it’s not being read.
It is a crime that you don't have a million views on this. Good information and description! Just found a deal on IBC totes, and this video was a great help for our rainwater system down at the cabin.
JUst a Great Video ! Covered everything really well with detail ! Many thanks !!
Rainwater is a wasted redource !Can't wait to start my setup
Easy enough! Thanks for showing us how to do this. I’m actually trying to start the same exact system but for a camper
Thank you for the detailed description of each item and how to set up. After watching so many videos yours is hands down the most confidence inspiring one I’ve seen. I feel confident to be able to do this myself (with a little help for lifting the tanks. Thank you again from Australia,
Best rain water collection content I’ve seen! Thank you for the detail on pieces and process! I can do this now!
Thanks for a great video, very nicely presented! You gave me great tips for using the Totes' drain fittings and providing an overflow in the top. I didn't really want to cut into the Totes.
This is one of the best videos I've seen on rainwater collection, got some good ideas for when I finally get around to installing my own system!
Excellent information. I have never heard of the first flush diverter. Love the detail sir. Thank you so much.
Thanks for a detailed setup with parts list! Good job! 👍
Great video! I love that you labeled everything. You have a new subscriber and I will definitely recommend you to anyone looking to set up their own system.
This video is fantastic! It has everything I was looking for and you explained everything so well! Thank you so much!!! I can't wait to implement my system!
Awesome! You will appreciate the rain much more once you get the system. It’s such a great feeling watching the rainwater enter the system!
Awesome educational video! Thank you for your time and effort you put into it.
Thank you so much! Best and most comprehensive plan and list!
Nicely described, thank you, so many people just skip by the fittings and stuff. Good job.
Absolutely Brilliant! Suggestion: Make a video 'how to build a windmill' for a well.
I love this video. Very detailed. Thanks for sharing
Thank you for the precise instructions!
You're welcome. 😀 The water runs very clean. I run it through a Berkey filter though and drink it and use for cooking as well..
Best explanation and step-by-step video. Thank you
Outstanding video sir. Got 2 of the same tanks today. This helps a lot.
Thank you for your great descriptions and overall very informative video.
So helpful!! Thanks so much!
Very thorough! Thanks for the parts list
This is tue BEST video!! Thank you so much!!
Great installation!!!
Great job with lots of great information, thank you.
Just what I was looking for! Thanks so much
Great video, very helpful! Thank you!
OMG Thank you for listing everything! I'm totally diy with no previous experience.
You’re welcome. It’s been a year later and the water is still running clean. I recently added a drip irrigation pump for timed watering of the garden. I’ll post a video soon!
Nature Hacker yes please!!
What a great video! Wonderful job. So very helpful
Great catchment info. Thanks for the details.
This was one of thee best videos diagramming a rain catch system! Nicely done, great graphics and instructions!
Thanks! I’m glad you found it informative.
Thanks so much for this very informative video! This will help me out so much😀
Great informative video.
Thank you!
Subscribed
And now we have forever chemicals you can't get out of the water, yay!, Really did like the system.
Well, those PFAS chemicals are nasty and costing water treatment facilities millions of dollars now to filter them out and they still can't get it all out, like you're saying. Thankfully, we have a natural solution- BIOCHAR- that comes from burning wood in low oxygen conditions and makes a special activated charcoal that can filter out most contaminants- including PFAS. I hope to add a natural filter system to my water tanks that includes sand, pebbles, and biochar. But it may take several months before I get a design that I can share. But there are some videos out there now on You Tube going in that direction. Just not a simple and natural home system design that can be added to rainwater systems. But it can be done!!
*Well done Jeff great installation* 🏗🙏
jort Thanks!!
Cant wait to start my system
Beautiful video thank you so much 😊
This was awesome thanks for the video
Excellent job and I enjoyed the anole who photobombed - and apparently was inspecting the system - around the 7:32 mark!
Top video on this topic. Thanks!
Amazing videoooo, easy to follow instructions!!!!
Thank you for the detailed information and steps. Just subscribed.
great vid man!
Thanks for the upload
man - what a great informative video - thanks for the sharing
This is amazing, will definitely follow you guys
thanks
Awesome shirt!
Good video. Thank you.
Excellent. Tks
We have 5000 gallons of rain water in our system. I'm posting videos of the system build now.
Nice! I’ll have to check it out.
Beautiful work! You did an excellent job instructing us on how to make this wonderful harvester! I really appreciate the time and effort y'all did! and a parts list catch me I'm fainting......
I’m glad to help out! I watch too many videos where they skip some important steps. Let me know if you have questions. 😀
Thanks GREAT video
Nice... 💯💯
YOOOOO IM OUT OF ORLANDO AND JUST STUMBLED ACROSS YOUR VIDEO!! I'm literally doing this myself and have been doing some research. Holy cow this video made me so excited lmao
Nick Kailey Wonderful! I’m happy to help out. If you need a local contact for food grade totes, message me. The system is a year old and still works great. I’ve tried out several systems and this one is the most reliable for me. I”ll be posting an update soon on how I use the system for drip irrigation and filtering for drinking water. I do recommend adding another level of cinder blocks to raise the system higher for more water pressure, but it won’t matter much if you use a small pond pump for running irrigation.
@@naturehacker1095 That's awesome! I wish you luck. Actually, I'm getting the totes donated to me by a friend who buys them in bulk. The totes should be here within a week or two. Next step is repair the gutters and then get the system down! As a Florida native, I think everyone should have one of these
Add a $150 harbor freight jet pump....
Thank you so much and I subscribed! 💜😊
Many thanks for this great tutorial video ! I subscribed to your channel.
If you are lazy, you can use a black plastic pallet bag to cover it (the pallet cover bags are rated for one year in direct sunlight and cost about $3 each. If you buy the thinner ones, just be careful when you slip it back into the IBC cage, so that you don't rip the bag. You can buy them in a roll of 50 from commercial supply stores like Uline. Much easier to wrap than to cut a large sheet and fit to size. With that many bags, you can slip one on from the bottom and tape to the tote, and then slip one on from the top and tape down.. that way when water comes in from the top it won't fill up the bottom bag.
Good tip! There’s also IBC covers out there now made specifically for this purpose. They weren’t available when I built this system but they go for like $40.
@@naturehacker1095 just looked that up. there's a ton of those specific covers on Amazon, if anyone is looking for them.
Last video from 2 years ago? Is this channel still alive? Regards from Germany 🇩🇪 ✌️
Yes. Sorry- I moved a year and a half ago and had to rebuild the garden and move my systems. I’ll be posting a lot more soon!
I love this idea wish I can do it for my garden
Rainwater collection is fun and can be done on any scale. I’ll be showing a smaller 55 gallon system soon! I have to admit that I stood outside the first time it rained after I built the system to watch it fill up! 😀
This is excellent breakdown!
Thanks!
You mentioned a video about a pump system- I'm interested in seeing that
Great instructional vid! Having built several of this type of catchment systems, I find that painting the totes to be longer lasting, and easier. Here in the islands, the plastic eventually weathers out and becomes brittle due to the sun and weather after a few months time - even if shaded, it doesn't last as long as a painted tote. YMMV.
I agree that it's easier and longer lasting but I am drinking the water (After filtering with a Berkey) and I just don't want to risk having any paint chemicals getting into the water. Plastic is semi-porous. I don't have any research to show either way that it is an issue. I just do what works for me. They sell covers now on Amazon.com to cover totes which may last a lot longer. As for the plastic I'm using, I'm on three years and counting with no degradation. But I'm sure it will happen eventually.
What paint are you using for the totes? I like this idea and think I will go that route as well.
@@michaelking42 I cover with a thick plastic instead of paint to avoid any chemicals leaking through. It’s precautionary but the decision is up to you. I include the plastic I used in my material list. The plastic I used is going three years strong with no sign of degradation in Florida heat and sun.
@@naturehacker1095 I did see your plastic wrap and was thinking I'd do the same, but then I did see the covers they sell on amazon and started leaning that way; then at the mention of paint....I really like that idea and will research some more before I commit to it. About 10 years ago I stored a 24 pack of plastic water bottles for hurricane preparedness in the cupboard under the bathroom sink with some cleaners. When I took a drink out of one of the bottles, it tasted just like the perfume from a soap dispenser in the cupboard. So first hand know how porous these things are. I'm in FL too, BTW, and thank you.
@naturehacker - It’s interesting that you are worried about chemicals from acrylic leaching through all the chemicals that make up the plastic to contaminate your water. Glad to hear you use a Berkey - we have one too, though that would have been really good precautionary comment to include in the video.
Nice work
Best video on setting up a rain collection system! I appreciate you explaining it in a way that a newbie like me can understand. Not sure what the pavers cost in 2019, but 100sq is over $250. It's $11 for one paver. Thanks again for the video!
Haha Yeah. I realized this AFTER I made the video. I brought the box of pavers to the register and the employee must have scanned ONE of the pavers and it rang up to $12. I guess we both had no idea that it was only for one paver!! I bought two boxes this way for the same price for each system that I built and they made the mistake both times. Honestly, I had no idea the pavers were $12 each.
Any update on when we can expect your next video? Looking to build our system soon and would love to see how yours has been working and any changes you may have made
a litle Tipp you can pay the IBC Container in black 🤗 Safe Money 🤗
I like it spr bro
I would think be easier to just paint them but I'm still building this system. Thank you
It may be easier to paint them but the plastic is slightly porous so I guarantee that paint chemicals won’t get in the water. If you are going to drink the water, covering with a thick plastic cover may be better.
I have a question about the overflow. You mentioned loosening the caps on the top to allow air to leave while filling. Once full, wouldn't the water just flow out of the loosened caps instead of the overflow above?
There’s a few options. You can put the caps on and then twist a few times to keep them from coming off and that lets the air leave the tanks. An alternative is to cut a hole on the side of one tank near the top and insert a rubber grommet and then insert pvc pipe. 1.5 inch is all you need and that will take the overflow wherever you want to go. So the water level will stop at that hole and the water will flow out and never touch the top caps. I’m going to try the second way on a new system I built just to show how it’s done. But the method I used in this video has been working for 3 years now. I’ll do an update video with popular questions answered soon.
@john - Yes. Screw them on tight, then drill a hole to insert a water tight fitting to extend a standpipe higher than the overflow. Add a lose cap to keep mosquitoes out.
Do you recommend adding the standpipe to the screw on lid or the top of the IBC tank? I'm just trying to picture what you are recommending as I came here wondering why the water wouldn't just escape out of the loosened cap.
Im donald from your science class
Hello Donald! 😀
This is an excellent video and my wife and I are using your design to build out our own collection system now. Thank you for creating such an informative video and for providing such a detailed parts list. It’s incredibly helpful!! One thing I wanted to point out is that you have a quantity of 1 listed for the 2” female PVC adapter in the parts list. I believe two are needed for the this two-tote setup, right? One per tote spigot?
What a coincidence, I had you as a science teacher way back in the day... so far back I can't quite remember if it was Stonewall Jackson middle or Boone high. The hazy memories I have are more ghetto flavored so I'm thinking maybe Jackson... those little heathens were pretty disrespectful. Looks like making these videos is way more fun.
Hello! I remember Jackson. Being stuck in a classroom is not the best way to teach science. Being outside building systems and showing people how to grow food is where I have the most fun! 😀
Very cool video I live in a 55 and up community and we are purchasing a home here and I'm looking for some water catchment that is kind of inconspicuous HOA will allow it as long as it Blends in with the surroundings this is one of the best videos I've seen
The aluminum cage is perfect for attaching boards or other types of covering to hide the system. You can attach a few thin boards vertically to the front of the cage with zip ties and and then screw larger boards horizontally to them. Or you could attach trellis board and grow flowering vines or other vegetation over the system. Or just build a false wall in front of the system. Easy to hide!
You can also get these tanks made with black plastic, factory ready
Thank you! Idk about FL , but here @ NJ there is a rainwater harvesting conserve rebate program up to $2000 credit
Maranatha 👍
I wish we got that down here but things in Florida are a little backwards. lol
@@naturehacker1095 yes indeed, even when it comes to solar panels system as well 👍
Great video, thank you.
However I have two suggestions.
One is get only food grade totes, and make sure they are. I have bought a bunch which even when the seller said they were clean, ended up having herbicide or some other chemical in them - you don't want that in your water. I used them for waste products like engine oil to use for heat. There are some very nasty chemicals in these totes so do your Due Diligence.
The other is to use on the output manifold where they hook up to the bottom of the tote, don't cement them to the valve through the coupler, instead use a 2" union with an o-ring (get the one with the o-ring), no leakage and it can be disassembled where cementing them together you have to cut something to disassemble. While they are not cheap - $20 or so - they save a lot of time and hassle in removing the manifold say to move the system or to replace the tote. They will take the pressure too.
Thanks Greg. I just moved this system to a new house and I’ll probably take your advice and get a union to put them back together.
As you mentioned finding a way to connect the totes and the plumbing has taken many hours. Many thanks for describing the connections and where to find them. My plan is a little different. I'm planning to collect rain water and store it in 2 totes in the ground below the greenhouse. I'd be interested in your thoughts about putting your totes under ground. Again, thank you for the detailed explanations.
Hello! I don’t have personal experience burying IBC totes but the walls are thin so I would be cautious about it. Some people report having the walls cave in when the tote runs empty, but this may be due to not having some type of vent or tube that comes to the surface to suck in air to replace the vaccuum created when water is sucked out by the water pump. Also, if your water table is high, it could crush the tank from underneath of its covered up or it could float up out of the ground. So be sure to determine how high your water table can get after a rain storm. Either way, if you do decide to bury them, keep them in the cage and maybe add some more reinforcement to protect from pressure from dirt/sand. And make sure to keep the tank covered at all times. If sunlight hits that water and algae forms, it will be tough to clean out.
Can wrap the frame with concrete/mortar wire. It’s like chicken wire, for supporting mortar. That would help keep dirt from crushing in. Might take several layers & might take mortar to be hell for stout.
Maybe a small frame over the top. Using a pallet would be temporary since it will rot. Recreate a pallet shape with concrete boards? To put a sturdy “roof” over the IBC?
Thank you for the great video! How is this system working a few years later? Have you had to make any updates or adjustments?
I got the same set up however I used 4 totes to give me 1100 gallons of rain water, my down spout is connected to the one tote but I have all 4 totes connected like yours at the bottom however I have an irrigation pump hooked up to the pvc with a 3/4" male garden hose adapter to make my home made lawn sprinkler system to water my grass for FREE👍🏿👍🏿
Awesome! You have an on demand pump that keeps pressure? I’ve been looking into that so I can water the garden or feed it into a natural filter system with biochar, sand, stone, etc.
@@naturehacker1095 it's just an irrigation pump that I got from lowes, I posted a link but RUclips keep removing it...I'll make a video of my set up when I get home
Here's my set up also I have a in the tote 70 micron filter I forgot to show
ruclips.net/video/1Wt-E00SqbM/видео.html
You might want to invest in Such 80 unions and Spears Ball Valves with unions, those white valves will lock up and break when you try to turn them, also you want a rubber ball or a bladder used for plumbing in case you get a broken pipe, so all the water does not come out.