Off Grid Water Storage

[ToxicTurtl3]

I'm trying to figure out if the rain water collection method of gathering water is reasonable. I also want to know how much water to store. I heard of someone storing like 150 gallons but that ways over 1000lbs, and the water will move back and forth. Basically I want to know the best way to store large amount of water in my off grid house.

Thanks for your help 

[OlJarhead]

I personally wouldn't store the water inside.  Reason being is that it adds humidity unless it's completely sealed.

Many of the folks who have to truck in water use Cisterns.  You can usually get a 325 gallon cistern pretty cheaply and it doesn't take too much to bury one (which prevents freezing).  Once buried you plumb it into the house and use an RV pump to provide water pressure unless you have a hill nearby like I do Then you bury it up hill from you so you can take advantage of gravity to provide water pressure.

[OlJarhead]

Rain water can be used but I'd use a filter before drinking just to be safe.  You could use a 'Big Berkey' type filter (we love our Crown Berkey) which doesn't require power since it's a gravity type.

If using rainwater you'd have to have enough rainfall to maintain a decent amount of usage.  I can use 5 to 20 gallons in a day depending on how many people are at the cabin and what we're doing.  Taking showers, doing dishes, washing hands etc all take water so being able to replenish the higher amount of usage is key if you ask me.  That way if you only use an average of 5 gallons a day but can replace 20 you'll never have to worry.

[tommytebco]

Rain Barrel
http://www.waldeneffect.org/blog/How_much_does_it_cost_to_build_a_rain_barrel__63__/
and I've seen these used several places
https://www.google.com/search?q=water+storage+container&rlz=1C1DLKB_enUS545US545&es_sm=122&tbm=isch&imgil=ENQuFBBC3Vjy2M%253A%253B_ZYpuCRkS1y6FM%253Bhttp%25253A%25252F%25252Fwww.discushatchery.com%25252F275gallontotes.html&source=iu&pf=m&fir=ENQuFBBC3Vjy2M%253A%252C_ZYpuCRkS1y6FM%252C_&usg=__XFzJFv58K1YhGRMXKA1CSX_RKcE%3D&biw=1280&bih=649&ved=0CG8Qyjc&ei=5rCmVP7zCsOgNv6HgNgG#facrc=_&imgdii=_&imgrc=ENQuFBBC3Vjy2M%253A%3B_ZYpuCRkS1y6FM%3Bhttp%253A%252F%252Fwww.discushatchery.com%252Ftotecontainer.jpg%3Bhttp%253A%252F%252Fwww.discushatchery.com%252F275gallontotes.html%3B504%3B555

[hpinson]

This looks like a fairly comprehensive resource on the topic:

HarvestH20

http://www.harvesth2o.com

Is it reasonable in your case?

1. Determine your daily water usage. 150 gallons will not last long for most people. 500-1000 gallons of storage might be more reasonable for 1 or 2 people who have low water needs. There are people down around Big Bend in Texas who have 2 or 3 1500 gallon tanks for storage of the few but intense rain events they get yearly.  I know one good thunderstorm where I live can throw 300 gallons off my roof. But it rains so infrequently that at best I can use as a supplement.  How much you store really does depend on your usage and how much you can store between rain events though.

2. Determine if it rains enough to wholly, or supplementally support that usage.

3. Assuming yes, determine the size/ surface area of the collector needed to capture the rain. That could be a house rooftop or dedicated collector made of perhaps metal roof panels.

4. Determine if there is anything toxic in the rain that you will be collecting, i.e. you live downwind of a coal burning plant, a big city with a lot of smog, or a nuclear plant that has melted down.  It might be worth collecting some rainwater and having it analyzed to see what you are up against.

5. Determine if there is anything toxic in the collection system, i.e. a tar roof, lead components, or a roof coated with some toxic material that might contain bad chemicals like PCBs or BPH.

6. Size and purchase a water collector. That could be an above or below- ground tank or cistern.  Below ground will provide protection to some extent against freezing.  Above ground may need some sort of foundation support based on weight of the tank with water in it. http://tankdepot.com is a good source of above and below ground tanks.

7.  Consider a system that will divert x gallons of water from the collection pipeline at the beginning each rain event to protect against/ flush gathering accumulated crap (literally) that immediately washes off your collector surface. Fecal contamination from animal and bird poop is not a good thing to drink.

8.  Consider some sort of decontamination system, i.e. water treatment with chlorine, and/ or filtering.

9.  Determine your maintenance schedule. Tanks can and do foul with algae and need cleaning periodically.  This is especially true of white or semi-transparent above ground tanks. You probably want to test your water quality now and then too.

[OlJarhead]

My wife and I managed to go 3-4 days with 26 gallons and not taking showers (camping in a tent trailer) but doing dishes etc for our kids (usually 4 of them though we have 5 we never seemed to camping with all of them at once).  For just two of us that would last a couple days if we take showers but that's pushing it.

I use a 325 gallon cistern that I really only get about 275-295 gallons of use from (due to placement of outlet) but since I have a well, solar pump and float valve it isn't an issue.

[Txvineman]

Are you looking to store and have water for the constant needs of a family, or just the occasional drinking and cooking weekend trip water?  Very different setups

[ToxicTurtl3]

Are you looking to store and have water for the constant needs of a family, or just the occasional drinking and cooking weekend trip water?  Very different setups

I want a water system for 1-2 people full time. I would like to have something like a 350 Gallon cistern that if I needed to, I could empty and put in the back of my truck and move with me.

[Dave Sparks]

I'm trying to figure out if the rain water collection method of gathering water is reasonable. I also want to know how much water to store. I heard of someone storing like 150 gallons but that ways over 1000lbs, and the water will move back and forth. Basically I want to know the best way to store large amount of water in my off grid house.

Thanks for your help 

The best way is an underground storage tank.  The plastic drinking watersafe 3,000 gallon tanks are very good. We store from May until first rain in October 16,000 galllons. The two of us  each use 500 gallons a month. The garden uses the rest.  Good Luck!