A great story of conservation
The AJC has a neat story about a couple in Roswell that take water conservation to the extreme.
The couple lived in West Germany until the late 50’s. Life in post-war Germany taught them to conserve everything possible, which they continue to this day.
The most interesting part of the article was about their rain barrel system. They have 20 barrels connected to the downspouts from their roof. 5/16th of an inch of rain is enough to fill all 20 barrels, which totals over 640 gallons. That’s quite a lot!
The article also mentions a few other water-saving measures — maybe a new idea or two for you to pick up.
December 3rd, 2007 at 2:40 pm
Yes I read that article and long term solution for Georgia should be requirement that every new building has cisterns to collect water runoff from roofs. Plus rain barrels for existing structures is good idea.
December 3rd, 2007 at 3:41 pm
I liked how he linked barrels together and just bought a simple pool pump to suck the water out. Empty a barrel, just plunk the pool pump into the next barrel. And using trash cans made life simpler too - a little PVC and cauk and you’ve got a simple water transfer system from barrel to barrel.
I would almost want to put the tube along the bottom, so that I wouldn’t have to move the pump - the water would just drain towards the barrel being sucked down.
December 3rd, 2007 at 5:59 pm
I saw this on the Weather Channel. Their system was impressive!
December 3rd, 2007 at 6:30 pm
Bravo to these folks. An example for all.
December 3rd, 2007 at 7:31 pm
This is a great story, but I am curious. Is there any use for water collected in rain barrels other than to water your lawn? If you don’t care about watering your lawn, is there any need for rain barrels?
December 3rd, 2007 at 10:06 pm
You could use that water to flush your toilet, for starters - that’s where most of the water use for your home comes from.
December 3rd, 2007 at 10:17 pm
No Carol, there is no good use for this. Its all folly especially when the focal point of design is the capture of rain water which we don’t have obviously. Save your money and don’t buy barrels and pumps. Besides, it will just be an eyesore that won’t pass any neighborhood covenants.
December 3rd, 2007 at 11:30 pm
“Its all folly especially when the focal point of design is the capture of rain water which we don’t have obviously.”
Such black and white thinking seems to be dangerously commonplace in the American regime. It remains to be seen how such mentalities will fare in the coming system collapse. The rain has not stopped as I understand it. It may not rain as often with the drought but it sure helps to save water when you can. Germany actually gives tax credits to those who install cisterns, and there are filters to make such water suitable for drinking, so to answer Carol’s question more intelligently, yes you can do a great deal more with the water, but it’s a question of getting the technology to do so. I can’t imagine that the market for such technology would grow with people such as yourself seeking to be resonsible citizens.
“Besides, it will just be an eyesore that won’t pass any neighborhood covenants.”
Cultural is a powerful thing; clearly the culture of waste is deeply ingrained in the lifestyles of Americans and old habits die hard. I believe that the mind-state is often a worse factor in such dilemmas than anything nature can bring.
Anyway, the covenant of a few tired, uninspired suburbanites without the will to break from the status quo is hardly a covenant worth honoring. This resourceful older couple is typically German in that regard, and what would you rather drive today, a BMW or a Ford?
Somewhere those in the land of plenty lost their sense of resourcefulness, and the plenty disappeared.
December 3rd, 2007 at 11:31 pm
Correction, that’s “wouldn’t grow”.
December 4th, 2007 at 1:46 pm
Carol in response to your question about whether or not there is anyway to recycle your water for purposes other than watering the lawn the answer is yes there is! I have a water purifier that not only allows you to recycle rain water for in home use but you can also recycle your grey water. This water can be used to water the lawn but also to do the laundry, flush the toilet or even bathe. This system can be set up at the house and is not an eye sore such as a big barrel to catch rain you don’t currently have. This system will be great even if you do see an end to this water shortage.
December 4th, 2007 at 7:45 pm
Thanks for all the information. Joe, how do I get more information about setting up the system that you mention? Is there a certain company that provides this service?
Thanks,
Carol
December 4th, 2007 at 8:54 pm
For a great basic rain barrel, take a look at the products from http://www.aquabarrel.com
December 5th, 2007 at 9:46 am
Carol, first off you are welcome. You can get more information by calling me at 606-465-0310 or emailing me at romerjoe@yahoo.com. As far as this service goes I have a water purification business. We have several different options available which have been tested and proven in situations such as yours. Anyone else who would like information feel free to contact me at either option, I will answer any questions you might have and can also send you literature on our units.
Thanks,
Joe
December 8th, 2007 at 12:44 pm
We can all look like this guy with our tanks, beard, and ugly water tanks…the USA is not a 3rd world country (yet), let’s keep our cool or this is a picture of your future…not me.
http://www.11alive.com/news/local/drought/article_drought.aspx?storyid=107674
December 8th, 2007 at 12:51 pm
Hey Zeit, its all folly - why dont folks stop trying to find ways to turn us into Botswana. Better yet, Zeit, I prefer the American way so stop trying to lower the bar please. If anyone wants to lower their standard of living, then I suggest you move. We don’t need to drink from our “roofs” or “tote” water from the “crik” to flush toilets. Also, Zeit, the American way and our culture now allows you Germans to have your cisterns after we kicked Hitlers butt. So, please don’t tell us how to live, you are fortunate our CULTURE cared what was going on under the Reich. Cheers.
March 6th, 2008 at 3:14 pm
Want more pressure for that rain barrel? Check this out:
http://cgi.ebay.com/Rain-Barrel-Pump-Electric_W0QQitemZ250223005598QQihZ015QQcategoryZ29522QQssPageNameZWDVWQQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem
There must be a better way to capture and reuse water…
July 11th, 2008 at 9:38 am
Just be sure to find rain barrels which offer a mesh mosquito guard, and also look for barrels which have an overflow valve function to allow the excess water to flow out of the rain barrel and away from your foundation. Hooking a drip hose to this valve is a great way to give your garden or flower bed a constant source of moisture.