I just finished my rainwater collection system, let's see what happens when it actually rains! I observed the flwo of water off the roof, and it's always a gentle trickle, never a torrent, so I think this will hold up. We're moving the trailer a short distance tomorrow, so I immediately get practice breaking it all down
The Bear II said
05:36 PM Jun 22, 2012
Looks like a very inventive setup.
I'm glad you are using a katadyne filter the type used by hikers to treat river or creek water to kill and filter out bacteria. When I first watched the video I had the sound turned down and thought you were using the typical ice maker type filter. I was worried that you would get sick from the rainwater. But when I went back and listened and heard it was a katadyne filter I was relieved.
It will be interesting to hear how well it works when it does rain.
Thanks for sharing.
Tinabeane said
08:50 PM Jul 4, 2012
Thanks for creating the video, that is a great idea!!
Tina
Cheddar Yeti Travels said
01:54 PM Jul 26, 2012
Nice Job Hina! Let us know how it went. Cheers! Jeanette
Bobbi said
03:54 PM Dec 3, 2012
I know this thread is several months old, but I was wondering how this ended up working out. I had a similar idea for rain collection, but I like this idea even better!
Hina said
05:37 AM Dec 10, 2012
Actually, the Katadyn didn't work out, drips way too slow. So I got a "10 stage filter" which I thought would filter faster.... wrong. So, I went with a homemade thing filled with aquarium filter stuff, which flows quickly. Just in time, where I am parked, the well water gets polluted and turns grey in heavy rains with nasty parking lot dirt; the water table is really shallow. It is definitely safer to use the rainwater. I can always boil it for drinking, or buy bottled, but great for showers. Here's the new, updated video.
Bobbi said
03:58 PM Dec 18, 2012
I see. So the main problem is these drinking water filters. They simply cannot keep up. What if you set up a homemade pre-filter under a rain barrel? I mean, set up a rain barrel to catch the water first with a homemade charcoal filter in a 5-gallon bucket underneath. Then allow that water to filter through the homemade charcoal filter system. It's charcoal on the bottom layer, then a layer of sand, then pea gravel on top. You'll have to research how much of each. Then put the pre-filtered water into your RV system, but use the drinking water filter to only filter drinking water at the sink. ?
Bobbi said
04:12 PM Dec 18, 2012
It's called a bio sand filter. I heard about it this week. It's from Practical Preppers. The video explains it better than I can. Here it is: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aYYcg18RXLs. Let me know what you think.
bigboomer said
04:19 PM Dec 18, 2012
Nice work. You could probably install a reverse osmosis system with a booster pump to get good drinking water from the rain water. Have you tested the water yet to see what contaminents you have in the water? You could also probably use a Brita pitcher for drinking water. Either way, nice set-up!
Bobbi said
04:30 PM Dec 18, 2012
Great suggestion for the Brita for drinking water, Bigboomer! I hadn't thought of that.
The problem with using the ceramic filter element is it requires pressure to work. The water won't simply flow through the filter using a gravity feed but will take a high pressure pump to work. I suggest collecting the rain water in a water bladder then pumping it out into your tanks at your leisure (or the filter's flow rate at the pressure of your pump.)
I just finished my rainwater collection system, let's see what happens when it actually rains! I observed the flwo of water off the roof, and it's always a gentle trickle, never a torrent, so I think this will hold up. We're moving the trailer a short distance tomorrow, so I immediately get practice breaking it all down
I'm glad you are using a katadyne filter the type used by hikers to treat river or creek water to kill and filter out bacteria. When I first watched the video I had the sound turned down and thought you were using the typical ice maker type filter. I was worried that you would get sick from the rainwater. But when I went back and listened and heard it was a katadyne filter I was relieved.
It will be interesting to hear how well it works when it does rain.
Thanks for sharing.
Thanks for creating the video, that is a great idea!!
Tina
Actually, the Katadyn didn't work out, drips way too slow. So I got a "10 stage filter" which I thought would filter faster.... wrong. So, I went with a homemade thing filled with aquarium filter stuff, which flows quickly. Just in time, where I am parked, the well water gets polluted and turns grey in heavy rains with nasty parking lot dirt; the water table is really shallow. It is definitely safer to use the rainwater. I can always boil it for drinking, or buy bottled, but great for showers. Here's the new, updated video.
I see. So the main problem is these drinking water filters. They simply cannot keep up. What if you set up a homemade pre-filter under a rain barrel? I mean, set up a rain barrel to catch the water first with a homemade charcoal filter in a 5-gallon bucket underneath. Then allow that water to filter through the homemade charcoal filter system. It's charcoal on the bottom layer, then a layer of sand, then pea gravel on top. You'll have to research how much of each. Then put the pre-filtered water into your RV system, but use the drinking water filter to only filter drinking water at the sink. ?
Nice work. You could probably install a reverse osmosis system with a booster pump to get good drinking water from the rain water. Have you tested the water yet to see what contaminents you have in the water? You could also probably use a Brita pitcher for drinking water. Either way, nice set-up!
I want advice on Reverse Osmosis - Does anyone have experience with this iSpring system www.amazon.com/gp/product/B003ZZUBHE/sr=8-2/qid=1376937772 or one of these stores.ebay.com/max-water-usa/Reverse-Osmosis-Systems-/_i.html Or other systems? I'm starting full-timing soon and obviously new to water filtering; Would appreciate information on buying and installing R.O....