www.greenbuildermag.com 08.2012
SOME ASSEMBLY REQUIRED – The Hands-On Handbook Continued from previous page 20 ESSENTIAL DETAIL Planning to Grow
By simply leaving a few inches of extra pipe, you can allow for future expansion of the system, including a method of pumping water to feed irrigation or sprinkler systems.
~ How-to ~ BUILD AN EXPANDABLE RAINWATER SYSTEM
The 2” PVC is attached to the barrels by means of a male threaded fi tting. An extra length of 2-inch distribution pipe (extending the the right) allows for future expansion—and in the short term it provides a way to send overfl ow away from the house.
A simple brass tap gives immediate access to gravity fed water, but why not leave an extra couple of feet of 3/4” PVC that will allow you to hook up a pump such as the one below later, for drip irrigation or sprinklers?
Smart Pump
Once you’ve built your expandable rain barrel system, it’s fairly easy to connect a pump system. The model shown, the EBS 1250, is a powerful 1-hp unit that we found online at
www.therainwaterstore.com for about $500. The pump provides water at a constant fl ow rate, and it automatically starts when a tap is opened—and shuts off when it’s closed— essential for a low-tech rainwater system.
SPECIFICATIONS 1 horsepower (hp)
■ ■ ■ ■ 115V 180 ft. of head ■ ■ ■ ■
22.4 gallons per minute (gpm) max 5 Impellers
1” Inlet/Outlet 80 psi max
17.7” W x 13” D x 11” H
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