Solar Pumps and Rain Barrels go Hand in Hand
For the irrigation you will need: -
- WaterWand Heliomatic 130 solar pump with hanging basket watering kit.
- Rain barrel with clean water
- Kitchen scissors & sharp knife
- Ladder or safe working platform
- 1/4″ round cable clips
- Up to 6 nice hanging baskets
- Extra tube if the baskets are far apart. (50 feet supplied)
Position the pump
The pump needs to be positioned where it receives at least as much sunshine as the hanging baskets being watered. Ideally it should be a little higher than the top of the rain barrel, but up to six feet higher than the lowest water level is acceptable. The pump can be some distance from the rain barrel if the latter is in shade.
Install the irrigation
Starting at the basket furthest from the pump, screw a low output dripper firmly into the end of the tube. Put a stake on to the tube about one inch from the dripper and stake into the basket so it will drip near the center.
Take the tube back towards the next basket along the desired route, clipping into position as you go. When you get to the position where you need to spur off for the basket, cut the tube and screw a tee firmly into the cut end. Measure out the tube for the spur, screw a dripper into one end, screw to the tee, then add the stake and position in the basket. Repeat the procedure until all baskets have a dripper. If you have a mixture of small and large baskets, put two drippers in the large ones.
The delivery tube can be fed from one end or any position along its length, depending on where your rain barrel is. It can also be branched if need be and this will not affect the number of components needed.
Connect the pump
When measuring the length of tube from the pump to the first tee, add about 12″ extra. Screw the tube to the tee, then, ensuring the end is cut clean and square, push the other end onto the pump outlet marked “O”. The extra tube is necessary so that the tube is not strained against the pump outlet which will cause leakage.
Connect the water source
Drill a 1/4″ hole near the top of the water barrel. If you never remove the lid it is okay to drill the hole in this instead. Push some tubing through and connect the inlet filter. Adjust the tube so the inlet filter hangs between two and four inches from the bottom. Measure the tube back to the pump. Unless the tube is vertical, leave 12 inches extra so that it does not pull against the pump connection as this will cause an air leak which will stop the pump from pumping. Push onto the connector marked “I”.
Turn the pump on
When you first turn the pump on it will pay to disconnect the outlet tube until the pump is pumping water and no air. Then reconnect and give the irrigation system time to fill. Check that all the drippers are dripping and are properly positioned.
How does the pump work?
The solar panel captures energy from the sun which is stored in a battery. Once every 3 hours the pump will start and run until that energy has been used. The proportion of the suns energy which is captured can be adjusted using the control knob.
Setting the pump up
Turning the pump on starts its internal clock. An irrigation cycle will be started every 3 hours so it is easy to monitor the irrigation if you know what time the pump was first turned on. Turning the pump off and on again will reset the clock. If you need to know how much water is applied, put in an extra dripper and capture its output with a container.
To adjust the pump to your hanging baskets, initially run the pump on maximum. If it applies too much water, turn it down one notch. Turn the pump down or up until you are happy. The pump will not deliver the same amount of water with each irrigation cycle, it will apply more when it has been sunny and the plants need extra.
Basket growth
As the plants in your baskets grow, they will need more water and it is likely the pump will need to be adjusted accordingly.
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=George_H_Evans
Make a PVC Dsitribution to your Garden
A PVC water distribution system can be an easy alternative to the garden hose method in getting water to your new garden. Channeling the water through PVC is a much more permanent solution and provides a fixed and stationary way for getting water where you need it the most. Since PVC can sit above or below ground, you can decide the best approach based on your preferences.
Step 1 – Plan your Route – Planning your PVC water route is not as overwhelming as it may seem. All that needs to be done in this is to establish the best, most efficient route from point A, your rain barrel to Point B your vegetable garden. As your old Math Teacher used to say “The shortest path between two points is a straight line.” Try to define the straightest line between points A and B if possible. This will minimize the amount of elbows and tees needed to put your PVC water system together.
Step 2 – Once you have defined the best path, map out and measure the route you want your PVC delivery system to take. Purchase the materials at your local garden or home improvement store. Be mindful to purchase a few extra tees and elbows as sometimes your tubing may need to be re-routed a different way due to some of the obstacles in your yard.
Step 3 – Begin to erect your delivery system by placing the PVC tubing, tees and elbows together. Once it is all in place use, hook up a garden hose to the beginning to test it out. Since the pressure from your rain barrel will not be high, it is recommended to keep the hose pressure fairly low. If you have reached the desired result, go back through and glue each piece together with PVC cement. Connect the beginning to your rain barrel spigot and test the system from beginning to end.
In summary, a PVC water delivery system can be a fairly simple task to design and put together. Once in place, your rain barrel will become the main water source and feed your garden with the liquid refreshment it will need on hot dry evenings.
A gallon storage container can be used to store just about anything. From a containment drum for capturing rain from your rooftop, to storing food. Multi-gallon containers are versatile for any job.
Hot Days in August… How’s your rainbucket working?
A couple of showers here and there, and I have water to quench my thirsty garden, how about you? Are you feeling the pinch of water restrictions and need to be wary of the amount you use for your vegetables?
Create a rainbucket for @ 10 bucks and feel free to water you veggies whenever you want…You can also order fancier ones at Amazon.com
Can I use rain water for a shower?
Filed under: Rain Collection and Storage, Rain Water For Shower, Water Distribution
There seems to be a great deal of interest in using rainwater for showering applications. I noted in another post that you want to be careful in using rain from the rooftop to bathe or drink unless you have a filtering system in place.
Your rooftop has is not a clean surface as bird residue, and other bacteria can be washed away during a storm right into your water collection system. Primary usage of this water would be for your garden, car or power washing applications.
A filtering system will remove the contaminants and provide a safer situation for bathing applications. The filter pictured here bolts right onto your shower head, but there are other designs that may be more in line with your needs.
Old idea, New ordinance gets popular…
Communities and Local Governments are finally doing something to conserve water…
TUCSON, Ariz. — Long dependent on wellwater and supplies sent hundreds of miles by canal from the Colorado River, this desert city will soon harvest some of its 12 inches of annual rainfall to help bolster its water resources.
Under the nation’s first municipal rainwater harvesting ordinance for commercial projects, Tucson developers building new business, corporate or commercial structures will have to supply half of the water needed for landscaping from harvested rainwater starting next year.
Already, the idea has become so popular that at least a half-dozen other Arizona communities are looking to emulate Tucson’s approach.
“What we learned frankly is that we’re wasting a lot of water. It’s been our tradition here to shove it into the streets and get rid of it as soon as possible,” said David Pittman, southern Arizona director of the Arizona Builders’ Alliance.
