Rainwater Harvesting

I don't think you can call that water harvesting as such, but one of my gutters has a hole in it, I've been pestering OH to fix it for the last month or so, but in the meantime there is a huge tub underneath the hole. I use the content to water some sheep.
I think if done well, it can save you a few quid.
 
We've got a mega-huge (sorry can't remember what capacity) tank here, plus water butts collecting rainwater off the roof in various places and it saves us a fortune as we're on mains water here.

The horses seem to prefer rainwater to mains; and you can use it for anything you need like washing equipment etc as well as for the garden.

Well worth doing.
 
I have no water in my field other than what I collect from my stable roof. I have 5 water butts linked up and these pretty much provide all my water throughout the year. I only use it for my horses drinking water though and make sure it does not get wasted...if I run out I have to bring water from home.
 
I collect rainwater from everywhere, even the rain that runs off my horsebox roof!!

We have a proper rain water havesting system in our new house, a humongous tank underground that pumps the water up into the house, its used for showers, toilets and washing machine :)

It is an eco house though and doesn't have any heating either!
 
pottamus said:
I have no water in my field ....
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Me too. Been on rainwater for 12 years with no problems other than two or three months each summer when it can run out for the drinking trough butts. We grow trees and hedge shrubs in pots on part of our land and use 1000L tanks of rainwater in each bed, but it's away from the horses and allowed to get green.

So long as you store water in coloured butts, or clear butts in total shade, it's fine all year round.
 
T-Bag said:
Ned to take that into account.

I'm looking at 1000l butt's at first and then manybe a proper system underground.
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One 1000L butt will last several horses for a few weeks - don't bother looking any further at all!

1000L is a cubic metre, a tonne in weight. The 1000L system we have is the palleted, metal barred square tanks standing on walls about 18 inches off the floor (or whatever allows the largest bucket you use or ever will use) for the plant growing. I don't use them for the horses as they are almost impossible to clean and the taps are too savage for bucket filling, plus too large of a bore for hosepipes. If you do use a 1000L tank add a tap like a normal garden tap about 6 inches up the side to avoid sucking up gunge.

Problem with one big tank is that it's impossible to move, hard to clean annually, ugly and the pressure is just too high. Plus of course if it freezes or a leak appears you're unable to get any water at all. Think about smaller, say 200L, ones in a row with pipes between them at the top to allow them to run into each other freely. And always use lids to stop wildlife falling in and drowning as that's a sure way to stop horses drinking plus a nasty surprise for all concerned! That way, if one splits it's cheaper to replace them, too.

We use three 200L ones for two or three horses to drink from and have two more at the yard's back for washing things.
 
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