Next Level: Conveyance

After a long hiatus, Winfield and I have returned full focus to this project. Over the past several weeks, beginning in mid-September, we have been assembling the PVC as well as tweaking our design to account for the myriad obstacles we never thought to account for. In the process, we are learning a lot about all the pieces it takes to create a rainwater catchment system. We owe a lot to our contact, Ed, at our main supplier, Scotts Valley Sprinkler and Pipe, for all the great information he has given us about system components, as well as to our mentor at the highschool, Brad, for bearing with us in this process.
In the mean time I have also been working on a 3D model of the system using Google Sketchup. It has been a great tool for conceptually mapping out the layout of our design. Check out the model and our recent photos.

Construction

Barrels

Design images

Panoramic view of design

Back of the far left building seen in the panoramic image

Approval!

We have recently been approved to construct our full-scale rainwater catchment system on the campus of Natural Bridges High School.  We are still waiting to find out if our specific design will be approved or whether the design needs to be modified.  If our design is approved, the catchment barrels will be placed in the open space visible in the picture above, with underground pipes running to them from the roofs of the classrooms nearby (as described in the post describing wet systems).

Pilot

The completed pilot project.  Since this picture was taken, the barrels have been painted the same color as the shed but it otherwise looks exactly the same.  In this case, the system is harvesting water from the roof of the shed immediately behind the barrels.  A white gutter is visible attached to the upper left corner of the shed.  Attached to the gutter is a brown, corrugated hose which transports water caught in the gutter to the barrels.  A PVC pipe  runs along the bottom of the barrels and is attached to each outlet so that the water level in each barrel is equalized.   

Spring quarter update
     We recently heard word that we will be receiving money for our project! To be specific, the student initiated Carbon fund, created to reduce UCSC's carbon footprint by funding carbon saving projects, will be supporting us with $8,000. While our project produces minimal carbon savings through reduction in amount of water that must be processed and transported by municipalities, it makes up for this through community involvement.
     We will be spending  the money on a full scale professional rainwater catchment system, to be constructed near the gardens at NBHS. This system will likely be what is called a 'wet' or 'charged' system. This means that the downspout off the roof connects directly to a pipe that runs down into the ground, then runs horizontally to the tank, back up vertically, and enters the tank. As long as the entrance to the tank is lower than where the pipe attaches to the downspout, pressure will allow the water to appear to defy gravity and flow back up into the tank. See diagram:

This type of system is a great choice for our location because the garden area is strained for space, and, using a wet system, we can place the tank far away from the buildings, so as not to obstruct walkways or work areas.
     Currently we are researching more about wet systems so we can begin digging a trench next week with the students. We finished the pilot system on April 8th, after a few hiccups and delays. The pilot's completion was delayed significantly due to limited workdays with the students and bad weather. As a result, we will be involving NBHS's construction class, taking place on Mondays and Wednesdays, to get some extra work in to complete construction in time.