Ray Ely 502.896.0635 [email protected]
Blog with info from class http://waterlifeblood.blogspot.com/
Contacts
Saves on the expense of water plus sewer surcharge
Environmental consideration due to combined sewer overflow, sedimentation, and pollution runoff
Water may be better for plants Make a “visible” environmental statement
Why Collect Rainwater?
Amount of water needed to make a bottle of water
Water required per pound of beef Percentage of water that goes to irrigation Percentage of corn grown with irrigation How far from Louisville to Fiji Amount of sugar in Vitamin Water compared
to Coke
Fun (and Scary) Water Facts
Amount of water needed to make a bottle of water (2 bottles)
Water required per pound of beef (450 to 2500 gallons)
Percentage of water that goes to irrigation (37%)
Percentage of corn grown with irrigation (20%)
How far from Louisville to Fiji (7400 miles) Amount of sugar in Vitamin Water compared
to Coke (33g vs. 39g)
Fun (and Scary) Water Facts
Guard against tipping Guard against drowning Guard against water damage from overflow Guard against Mosquito larvae Not for consumption (No Pets either!)
Rainbarrel Safety
Should strain out debris Should not restrict flow Can use corrugated hose from downspout to
barrel Screen for mosquitos?
Inlet
Should be large enough Should be as high as possible in barrel (Should not be above bottom of grate) Should direct flow away from house
Overflow Properties
Should be close to the bottom of barrel Should be large opening for maximum flow Tight joint in barrel Can use bulkhead fitting Use valve that has hose thread built in
Outlet
A higher stand gives more pressure 1 psi of pressure for each 2.3 feet of height Stand needs to be level so barrel will
balance Certain barrels are more prone to tipping Consider securing barrel to wall for safety
Rainbarrel Stands
My largest home system
265 Gallon TankValve is 52 inches above ground.Inlet with overflow and integral strainer
Inlet Detail
4 x 2 Sanitary Tee used to provide integral overflow. Tote lid drilled for tight fit. Strainer between T and pipe
Inlet Detail
4 x 2 Sanitary Tee used to provide integral overflow. Tote lid drilled for tight fit. Strainer between T and pipe
Outlet Detail
Converted “nonstandard” thread to pipe threadFull flow quick opening ball valve w/ hose thread
Upside Down Barrel
Outlet pipe fitting installed in existing barrel bung. The bung has a built-in ¾ inch pipe thread
Double Barrel Orchard Irrigation
2 inch piping tied together with “no-hub” band. Small pipe allows bottom barrel to vent
Double Barrel Orchard Irrigation
Outlet showing ball valve and irrigation filter with hose connected
Double Barrel Orchard Irrigation
Base of Apple tree fed with ¼ inch adjustable flow line off of ½ inch header
Double Barrel Orchard Irrigation
Detail of ¼ inch shutoff valve in ½ header, with ¼ inch drip tube running to tree
Rain Garden
About 100 square feet of raingarden planted with fruit trees and medicinal/ edible plants
Rain Garden
Downspout converts to corrugated tubing, to atrium grate, to pvc pipe running underground
A rain garden is a planted depression that allows rainwater runoff from impervious urban areas like roofs, driveways, walkways, parking lots, and compacted lawn areas the opportunity to be absorbed
Definition of Rain Garden
Size is primarily function of roof area Also should consider soil permeability Percolation test can be performed Rule of Thumb………30% of the roof area At least 10 feet from house Natural low spot……….or dig a hole
Sizing and Placement of a Raingarden
Often use native species Wet loving plants in the bottom Dryer plants at the edge Pay attention to sun/shade requirements Species available from local sources List of Native plants in MSD pamphlet
Plants for a Rain Garden
Swales Think of a swale as a linear raingarden Plants are often planted on the lower berm Swales are usually constructed along
contour lines A contour line is a line in which each point is
the same elevation above sea level
Bioswales Bioswales are landscape elements
designed and built to remove silt and pollution from surface runoff water. These “swaled” drainage courses are, in a sense, gently sloped ditches that contain plants, compost and/or riprap. The sloped sides are usually less than six percent slope. These are often constructed of “engineered soil”.
Bioswales Think of a bioswale as a raingarden in which
the water has a “destination”. Although designed to slow, clean, and cool water flow, they are not designed to strictly infiltrate the water into the soil.
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