WATER TANKS

Water tanks are designed specifically for holding water. They fill easily, have an overflow tap, may be drained from the bottom, and often have an inspection port or hatch on top which greatly aids in cleaning of the tank.

 

Water tanks come in almost any size, style and capacity you could desire. The largest size that will still fit under a roof line on a single story house is about a 1250 gallon vertical tank. The inlet is slightly lower than the rain gutters, so the tank may be filled with rain water (through a filter) by gravity flow any time it rains, and the bottom tap can be connected to the house water system with a drinking water approved (RV supplier) water hose. A double-female garden hose adapter will connect the male end of the hose to the male threads on an outside hose bib, so water will flow backwards through the house water system: sinks and bathtubs will still fill, toilets will flush and refill normally, etc.

A properly installed water tank, filled automatically with rain water and connected to the house plumbing, will make living much easier in a non electric world. The time and energy required to lift and carry, then pour, water into containers for use is eliminated, time and energy that may be utilized for far more important requirements for living.

 

Gravity flow water is slow, but sure. Theoretically, water generates 0.54 pounds per square inch of drop, but with line loss friction a figure of a half pound of pressure per foot of drop is more realistic. So with a tall water tank holding water at an elevation of 6 feet, for example, the outlet flow is about 3 PSI. That isn't much, so filling a sink or toilet takes time, but it does work reliably, and that is the most important factor.

For those who are really serious about survival, the use of a water tank automatically filled with filtered rain water and delivered through the normal home plumbing system is the only way to fly. Complete instructions for tapping into rain gutter end caps, the delivery pipes, valves, inexpensive home-made filter bucket, and complete parts lists with prices are available in my booklet, "Rain Water Collection."

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