The Kwon family has a rainwater catchment system they use to water their garden. The storage tank is 80 inches deep. After 3 hours of rain, the depth of water in the tank is 37 inches. After 5 hours, the depth is 60 inches. If the rain continues to fall at the same rate, how many hours will it take to fill the tank? Round your answer to the nearest tenth.

The member of the Kwon family asking this question needs to do their OWN homework. WE did ours.

However, since they asked it is only fair to answer.  In 2 hours the tank went from 37 to 60 inches which is a gain if 23 inches.  Mathematically that is 23/2. if I set up a proportion it would be 23/2=20/x  because there are 20 more inches to go before it is full. Cross multiplying gives 23x=40. So x =40/23=1.739 hrs=104.358 minutes or 1 hr and 44.36minutes.  or1 hr and 44.4 minutes.  I’m sure that the Kwon family will value this answer.

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Why is my rainwater tank pump keeps pumping water to my tap every 1 mins for 3 seconds, yet my tap does not have water dripping out?

Hi, I have used a garden hose into the inlet/suction line to force clean water through the system which can clear out some small bits of debris with good success. Make sure there is nothing blocking your flow through the entire system, and be sure the pump is capable of creating pressure.
Some rainwater systems use a small "Flo Jet" brand pump with a built in pressure switch and it will cycle on/off when your valve is opened. If there is no water at the tap yet the pump is cycling then it sounds like you have blockage in the suction or discharge of the pump. I would take the piping apart and make sure it is clear, then test the pump with the pipes disconnected. You may have to take the head off the pump and clean it out as some debris may be lodged inside it as well.
Good luck!

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I am planning a water harvesting system in my school and we have the tanks and pumps organised, but we don’t know how to incorporate them into the water mains. We need a system to allow the mains be filled by our rainwater tanks but still have the ability to get the water traditionally if there is no rain on a particular day. Does anyone have any ideas for how this could be done?

How about a second tank, kept full of fresh water from the mains using a float valve like you find in a toilet tank. Then use a float triggered sump pump to transfer that water to the rainwater tank from the auxiliary tank when the rainwater tank gets too low. The sump pumps I see most often are the ones with the base that draws water from the same tank as the float is in, but I don’t see why you couldn’t adapt that pump to draw its water from another tank, perhaps by either lengthening the float cord and placing only the float in the rainwater tank and leaving the pump in the freshwater tank, or perhaps modifying the intake to draw from a hose that draws from the mains water tank.

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Hi,
I currently have a 40m long 12mm garden hose going from my backyard over my roof (3m high and approx. 3m long) to my front yard using mains water. I am looking for a pump to use so I can use my tank water instead of the mains. I currently have a very cheap pump but it is not powerful enough to get the water to the required height. Are there any pumps that would work in this setup and if so can you suggest some?

A standard sump pump will have adequate pressure to pump your rainwater over your roof. Go to your local building supply store’s sump pump department where they will have a number of pumps for your selection. Check the pumps and they will be rated by the amount of head pressure they will develop. Probably the least expensive one will suffice. If you need help on the selection ask a store clerk if the pump will deliver the water over your roof. The larger pipe / hose the easier the pump can deliver the water. (If there is any chance that the hose could be run around and not over the house, the less capacity you will need.) Although a sump pump will have a float mechanism to turn it off and on this will be a good safety measure, even if you are going to switch it off and on your self. Sump pumps should not be run when they are not pumping water, the float will keep that from happening. The store will also have pumps available without the floats but here again they should not be run when not pumping water.
If the line will go over your house you will also need a relatively inexpensive back flow preventer installed at your pump to keep the water from flowing back to the pump when it turns off. Also, If the end of the water hose on the outlet end is lower than the level of water in the container at the sump pump the water will continue to siphon over the house after the pump shuts off. Either keep the outlet end higher or each time the pumping is complete lift the outlet house to break the siphon action.

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go HERE: http://www.thisoldhouse.com/toh/article/0,,1180779,00.html

We want to filter some rainwater before discharging it to the municipal sewage. We will put some gravel on a 600 gal tank so the suspended solids will stay on the gravel before leaving the tank to the sewage.

We will use different sizes of stones, my question is what kind of sizes would you use and in what order (bigger at the bottom, smaller on top?).

Thank you.

Those types of filters are set up with larger stones on top and getting progressively smaller, with very fine sand at the bottom.

If you do it in reverse….. the fine sand just gets immediately clogged with mud.

P.S. The only way to clean a filter like that is to force water through it in reverse…. and I have to wonder what necessitates such a project.

Rainwater is already clean enough for the storm sewers…. and a gravel filter will not clean contaminated water to the point it would be okay to release it (unless you are just trying to prevent mud from flowing into the sewers).

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My assignment is on asutralian drought and i have to come up with a plan for a water concious farm – 6 crops, 6 animals and other things like rainwater tanks etc.
What animals could i use? animals that are low maintenance etc
help would be much appreciated!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
onlyy need animals, don’t need crops
thanx =}

Kangaroos or camels both are drought resistant animals and have large feral populations.
There is a developing market for there meat.
Goats

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done something beneficial to the world, like who designed the first rainwater tank, or who designs sunglasses that protect your eyes heaps from the sun.
anything designer, aslong as i can get information about them and their materials for my assignment.
10 points to best answer.
thanks!!

Look a all the GREAT Italian designers!! You will have lots of material to work with

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environmental issues

Look at home drainage designs where a barrel is buried underground and filled with rock to prevent it from crushing inward. These systems are used to remove surface runoff and increase absorption rates. Also, look at septic system designs.

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For an assisnment we are required to investigate ways tap water can be cooled in hot rural kinda area’s. The water is to be used for drinking, showering, cleaning and is sources from rainwater tanks, bore and river water. But i cant find ANYTHING on what makes tap water cold!??? or, how you can do it ! any help would be greaat !
yes barry, because we can totally cool a towns water supply with an ice cube.

Put it in the fridge.

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