Water Tanks for Home

[4x4Grant]

Hi Guys

So we are on our 4th Day with no water at home Luckly for me i have 2x 110L drums that are full. This has been a lifesaver
for the loo.

So my question is this. Who has water tanks at home and how have you done your setup? Please post pics if you have.

My current idea is this. Place a 5000 to 10 000L water tank next to my garage, Feed my main line to the tank, Place a shut off switch when the tank is full, Install a booster pump to pump water from the tank to feed the house. This will give me better water presure for the house.

Any tips advice is welcome.

[Mud Dog]

5000 lit is more than adequate. I would just collect rain water and keep the tank separate from the main feed - connect to house with in-line stop cock and a pressure pump but to use only when necessary or for watering the garden / topping up the pool. Remember also that there will be no pressure pump in the event of a power failure, so have a tap on the tank that you can draw water if needs be. If you keep your gutters clean the water should remain clear with minimal debris on the tank floor. One can occasionally add a tablespoon of granular chlorine, but remember that chlor attacks plastics over a period of time.

[Eyeman]

Hi Grant

Your idea will work, but remember the following:
It costs to fill the tank with municipal water - try to fill with rainwater, even if it's over a period of time. Better quality water in any case. Maybe put 1500l for starters and let the rain fill the rest.
The pump will also use power - keep as a backup .ie. use the tank as a reservoir, but use municipal water for its pressure.

Grant

[RaymondH]

I have a water system at home,

From the main supply it goes to the tank, from the tank to a pump and from pump to home.
I did install a bypass from the main supply to the home, bypassing the tank and pump, in-case of a power failure, I an stuffed if water and power is out at the same time, since my tank is placed at ground level.
I also installed a shutoff valve to and from the tank, if any repairs is needed.
I installed a normal toilet shutoff valve in the tank, works well.

[CasKru]

I feel your pain. We had a problem for 3 days due to a battery failure on our water meter.

We discussed JOJO tanks etc in that topic as well if you want to have a look: viewtopic.php?f=14&t=35795" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

[4x4Grant]

Thanks for the replies guys..

CasKru thanks for the link i do recall going over it but couldn't remember where i saw it.

Ok so i live on a farm with some 80 odd homes on it. We get our water from a borehole and we have been told the following. Its drying up and we use to much. The borehole is basically in a river Then we heard that the main pump is broken and is unable to supply us water.
So at this current stage we have no real idea.

Raymond thanks for that, that is the kind of idea i had in mind for my setup. Reason i am looking at a large tank is for the pure fact that if we are out for 3 to 4 days it will carry me and a few others through. We have 2 80 year old widows who are unable to drive and are unable to get water. Would be easy for me to pump water to a 110L tank drive to their homes and fill toilets and leave water for washing
dishes and basic stuff.

The way things are heading we have to become self sustaining

[4x4BEES]

That's a cool idea and a great gesture you have to help look after the elderly Grant

[4x4Grant]

Thanks Kevin.

I figure i will be there one day i will be there and i hope someone will be kind enough to help or look after me. Also it will teach my son
the value of helping others and hopefully instill good values in him.

So far what i have done is bought 8X 25L plastic Polycan's which i will fill and take to the 2 Old ladies in my road. The water
has been restored but its not going to last as they are only pumping 5000L a hour which is not enough to meet the demard
even with people using less.

Made some calls and going to look at reject tanks a mate sells they don't leak just have small defects. Will check them and go see what a new one costs.

[4x4BEES]

Sounds like an awesome plan boet.
Good luck and hope all works out like it should

[Mud Dog]

Collect rain water - it's pure and it's free.

You could also set up a small tank for the widows, if they can't afford maybe you could raise funds amongst the other residents or perhaps even get one of those rejects donated by your mate. Would be far less a burden on you later - you wouldn't have to cart and carry every day.

[gompie]

Manne, elke huis hie in Louis trichardt het n tank en pomp op aangesien ons deesdae net in die aande water kry, moet darem noem dat ons nou beter af is as n jaar of wat terug toe ons vir n week en half op n slag nie water gehad het nie.
Ek het die sisteem by my en my pa opgesit en ons survive n week met 2500l elk.Ons is nou al experts in pompe en tanks opsit. Raymondh se plan is 100%, onthou net n non return valve naby jou munisipale aansluiting.Skree maar as jy vashak.

[4x4Grant]

Thanks guys.

Yeah Andy we busy sorting out something for the 1 old lady now. The idea is to get a few people to sponsor a few items for her. Idea is a drum that we will raise and gravity feed to the loo. This will be filled by rain water in the rainy season and by the community in the dry.

Gompie with that 2500l how many people use it in your household?

Sent from my GT-I9295 using Tapatalk

[gompie]

Thanks guys.

Yeah Andy we busy sorting out something for the 1 old lady now. The idea is to get a few people to sponsor a few items for her. Idea is a drum that we will raise and gravity feed to the loo. This will be filled by rain water in the rainy season and by the community in the dry.

Gompie with that 2500l how many people use it in your household?

Sent from my GT-I9295 using Tapatalk

2 per household, i do the shower thing and swambo does the bath, usually where the most water gets used, then friday is washing day with sometimes 2 loads done, hope it gives you an idea of what size you need.

[4x4Grant]

Thanks alot that really does help alot.

Sent from my GT-I9295 using Tapatalk

[Froll]

Grant, I live on a farm and we only have river water that we pump out of the canal, no clean water. We are 2 of us and use about 4000 liters a week. That includes washing , watering the garden and we dont worry too much about saving water,( the water runs into the sea after it passes us) and we dont pay for water use in the houses, it is part of the water levy that gets paid for the lands.
I think you should could go far on 2500 liters, depending on how many there are in your house. If you got a 5000 liter tank and filled it the first time it would cost you much less in the coming months as you would on topping up every day and you would have more water for periods that may last longer. Just my 2cw.

[4x4Grant]

Thanks Froll. Yeah we pay a set fee of R280 a month so filling the tanks is no issue at all. We are 2 adults and 1 child. I think on 2500l we would go rather far. So far on a 210L with just toilet use its hardly made a dent and its been 4 days.

Froll what pump are you using if you don't mind me asking and what is a reasonable amount to pay for one?

Sent from my GT-I9295 using Tapatalk

[Froll]

Grant my tank is about 10 meters above my house on the koppie so I dont use a pressure pump just gravity feed. I pump from the canal about 50 meters away using a pump that is the same as a swimming pool pump. At some of the Kaap Agri branches they have a stainless steel pump for about R2000.00 to R2500.00 which I think is a very good price.

[4x4Grant]

Thanks Froll.

I would need to run a pressure pump as where I would put the tanks is ground level. I dont have anywhere to raise them.

Well I think first things first find some tanks

Sent from my GT-I9295 using Tapatalk

[Arras]

Remember the non return valve from mains to tank, use a ball valve to regulate flow when tank is full. Also connect mains to pump inlet with non return so that if there is municipal pressure, the pump will not run, but when municipal pressure drops, or there is no water, the pump will get water from the tank that only serves as reserve.

[RaymondH]

Gompie,

I need info please, why the non return valve on the main supply? the way my setup is currently, I don't think I need a non return valve.
I think I need to make a correction on my drawings, the "valves" in the pictures are actually taps, that I can open or close, the bypass tap is normally closed, so my tank and pump are my primary supply. when the power goes, I open the bypass tap and I am running on direct main supply. then once the power is back I just close the tap and I am running from my tank and pump. the pump has a built in non return valve, and auto shutoff if no water is supplied.
So I need to understand why do I need a non return on the main supply?

Manne, elke huis hie in Louis trichardt het n tank en pomp op aangesien ons deesdae net in die aande water kry, moet darem noem dat ons nou beter af is as n jaar of wat terug toe ons vir n week en half op n slag nie water gehad het nie.
Ek het die sisteem by my en my pa opgesit en ons survive n week met 2500l elk.Ons is nou al experts in pompe en tanks opsit. Raymondh se plan is 100%, onthou net n non return valve naby jou munisipale aansluiting.Skree maar as jy vashak.

[GeorgeJvR]

Water Pump.pdf

(122.23 KiB) Downloaded 55 times

[GeorgeJvR]

Dis soos my en ek glo Dirk / Gompie sin werk Die eenrigting klep voor en na die drukpomp is om die Pomp te beskerm teen hoë munisipale druk, en om te keer dat jou tenk van die pomp se kant af vol word en oor loop.

P.S My stelsel is al 5 Jaar oud en ek moes nog net een keer 'n tank blader vervang, daar is deesdae nuwer tipe pompe.

2500L Tank hou ons so 5 dae
2 Volwassenes en 2 Kinders

Groete van uit 'n droë Louis Trichardt

[KOBUSL]

TENK.jpg

(24.22 KiB) Downloaded 99 times

Ons twee 5000 l tenke met boosterpomp.
Die balklep sit so meter van onder af sodat dit van die munsipaal aanvul as die reenwater opraak.
Die eenrigtingklep keer dat jou water nie terugloop na die hooftoevoer as mnr Munsipaal uit water uit raak nie.
Die stelsel werk baie goed, veral vir die huwelik.
My pypwerk/estetika is egter nie op so 'n hoe vlak nie.

[Arras]

Without the non return valve, you will be pumping water back into the municipal supply.

[gompie]

Raymondh, just as george said, you dont want to pump water to the municipal line back, so put the non return as close as possible to your meter. The non return before your pump is to stop water from municipal to run your pump backwards but if your pump is fitted with it you are A for away.
If your taps are setup as i gather from you pic, you are pumping water back to municipal via the bypass.