12,800 Gallon Rainwater Harvesting System in Carmel Valley
A good rainwater capture system starts with a great filter. In this case Leaf Solution gutter filters were fitted over existing gutters. Leaf Solution is constructed with aluminum sides and fine stainless steel mesh. Not even a grain of sand can pass through this excellent filter. No other filter was used prior to rainwater entering the tank system. The home owner will never have to clean the gutters again and can depend on this gutter filter to provide high quality rainwater for irrigation. Installation of gutter filters was completed by Noble Pride Roofing located on the Monterey Peninsula.
This is a "before" picture of where the homeowner decided to place the tanks. GSL will install a 30' x 10' pad to increase stability. The pad will have compacted base rock and a layer of pea gravel inside a 2" x 6" edge placed level. The three 2,600 gallon tanks will be placed on top and connected via a dry conveyance to four downspouts surrounding the home.
This is the "after" picture. The three tanks sit on the pad and have flexible PVC hose connections. The hoses are connected to easy on/off hardware that can be attached or removed in seconds. Ball valves are placed on each side to isolate a tank if necessary. The inlet is connected from the conveyance pipe with a flexible 90 degree fitting next to the home and flexible fitting into the top of the tank. The overflow also has a flexible fitting exiting the tank and the outlet pipe has been buried running down a nearby slope. An automated pump is placed to provide irrigation water to landscape nearby.
A 5,000-gallon remote tank was placed at the top of the property. As the first three tanks fill a pump will push water to the 5,000 gallon tank and open up room to capture additional rainfall from the roof. This is a good example of how to use a remote tank if you don't have enough area near the home to capture the average amount of rainwater planned to fall. The rainwater spigot downhill near the garden will provide plenty of pressure based on the height differential between the tank and garden. Call Daniel at Garden Solutions Landscaping for all your rainwater harvesting and full service landscape needs. 831-224-4006.
