Virtual Rain Tour – Site 4 – West Eagle Drive

Harvesting the Rain at 388 and 392 West Eagle Drive (Winged Heart Farm), Salt Spring Island

Brief System Description:

Total Storage: 189,000 L (49,928 USG) in 20 tanks each 3,000 USG (2,500 Imperial Gallons)

A very large capacity system with several sub-areas of use one a single farm.

Uses: Irrigation and Domestic Non-Potable
Alternative Sources:

Groundwater well (200 feet – goes dry and is not in use for 6 months annually), and a shallow dug well/spring. The alternatives form the main source for treated potable domestic use, and some stored rainwater is also fed through the same treatment system to achieve microbiological and chemical water quality standards for domestic potable use. Multiple sources and water conservation is the name of the game in order to have sufficient supply for the large scale gardens as well as the residents.

Setup

 

MainĀ  house: 3 X 3,000 USG tanks (with 2 tanks for overflow storage)

Gutter collection from both sides of peaked roof on main house to three tanks, at 3,000 USG of storage volume, each.

Two tanks adjacent to nearby small cabin serve as extra storage for any overflow from the main roof surface area, and also have their own collection from the cabin’s gabled roof.


Three other pods of 4-5 tanks, As in image below, store water for gardens and other non-potable uses on the property:

FAQs

Q: When you established your system, did you design it to be built in stages or all at once? Did it occur as you planned?

A: The system was established in stages. We did not have a plan ahead of time and the first tanks were in place 13 years ago (2007). Over time, we have added a tank here and a tank there. The collection surface is metal roofing. As of 2020, we harvest a whopping total of 189,000 Litres of rainwater that we store in 20 tanks (each 11,365 Litres, equivalent to 3,000USG or 2,500 Imperial Gallons).
Q: Did you have professional support and if so, what elements required professional support for you? (design, roofing, water quality, installation, irrigation/water delivery, permitting, etc.)
A: Professional support was required for various aspects: filtering and UV sterilization; plumbing from downspout to tank, and from tank to house or garden.
Q: Were there any technical barriers for you to overcome?
A: When we first installed tanks (in 2008?) there were no regulations. The next time, in 2010 (I think) there was a regulation that said a tank could not be over 4 ft high unless it had engineering. We got around this by installing an overflow at 4 ft high.
Q: Does being a rainwater harvester help you to conserve water in other ways or to be more environmentally practical?
A: We are very careful with our water, because we do not wish to have to buy it. We bought a low water use clothes washer. We plant drought tolerant plants. We limit showering and take timed short showers. We catch our dish washing water to give to plants.
The drilled groundwater well on the property pictured here runs dry if we use it in the drought season, so we were forced to find an alternative. We know from years of experience the benefits of catching, storing, using and re-using non-potable rainwater in safe ways. This also serves to keep the precious groundwater in the ground where it serves other ecological purposes that have little to do with human uses or needs. ~ Tali Wendt
A: What do you want to tell new users about the type of system that you have: pros, cons, what you would do differently?
A: Tanks have to be cleaned yearly. This is kind of a big job. Also gutters, same thing.

Thank you for taking the Virtual Rain Tour at 388 and 392 West Eagle Drive!