5 stage sediment filtration for rainwater

[CliffordPope]

I was wondering how on earth it was possible to have yellow rainwater, but now I see that it is stored in a filthy nineteenth century brick vault I am not surprised!

We collect rainwater in a very big plastic fruit concentrate barrel, and it is clear, colourless, free from wasps and worms, and not bad to drink, without any filtering whatsoever.
It's not as nice as the water from the well, obviously, but in a dry summer needs must.

The only thing is rain is slightly acidic, even pure rain straight in from the Atlantic, so it needs neutralising I have recently discovered. But that's easily achieved by throwing in a shovel-full of bits of broken concrete.

I agree sorting out the brick chamber is the thing to do. Couldn't it just be lined with cement of a suitable mix - tanking?
That would take care of any acidity too.

 

[JoceAndChris]

The brick built chamber needs to be gently retired I think. It's very hard - impossible - to go down there. You'd need specialist equipment and I certainly wouldn't go down there, nor would Chris, so you're looking at several hundred or maybe even thousand to get it sorted out. Then, it leaks into our scullery, which is a cellar room, and is causing the wall to disintegrate. All in all it wants pumping dry and disusing, and diverting the rain into a lovely new underground tank that has better access.

I had kind of hoped to put this off until after we'd bought filtration. Simply because job after job is overwhelming emotionally and financially.

 

[JoceAndChris]

Anyway despite listening to what Doug and others said I've bought this £700 filtration system. The man selling it says he's 99% sure the colour will be removed, and if it isn't we can add on UV filter and carbon filter. Plus the work on the tank in the future.

A lot of money but I have no intentions of dying prematurely as the previous mistress of BC did. That toxic rain water is probably loaded with carcinogens.

 

[Schoolmarm]

UV filter only makes it safe to drink it won't remove discolouration. I have filters in 2 pots that I change roughly three weekly, they get caked in yellow clay/iron type sediment.

There is still enough fine sediment getting through into my house tanks to create a layer of sludge at the bottom of everything though. If the tanks stay full it doesn't get disturbed, but if I run anything off fast enough, the sediment gets disturbed and still results in yellow baths.

When I tip the dog bowl out, every day, some has settled at the bottom. It sends me mad.

 

[DJH]

That's right Miss, at the risk of repeating myself, filtering through a medium such as sand after the acidity has been neutralised (Ph of 7) is the only way the water will be clear and, after passing it through an ultra violet light, wholesome and potable which is important if there's any likelihood of ingesting it, say from showering or cleaning teeth (dentures!! :shock: ).


Doug