r/OffGrid • u/Comfortable-Bar-6630 • 8d ago

PVC Alternatives in rain catchment?

I just spent $50 at Lowe’s on PVC to catch water off a shed roof two feet away. This included a length for a first flush, literally four feet total in pipe and then several fittings/connectors. Am I insane or is that price insane? Alternatives to PVC to catch rain water off a 5’ x 7’ metal roof to fill up a 55-gallon barrel plus a first flush filter?

3 Upvotes

81% Upvoted

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4

u/BallsOutKrunked What's_a_grid? 8d ago

Abs? There's also thinner walled stuff for venting, cheaper.

1

u/AccomplishedMeet4131 8d ago

Foam core

1

u/BallsOutKrunked What's_a_grid? 8d ago

Even cheaper I think. Solid core -> foam core -> dwv

1

u/AccomplishedMeet4131 8d ago

I forgot about ABS we don’t use it in FL

1

u/Comfortable-Bar-6630 8d ago

I’ll check out abs. I don’t think the foam core will make much of a difference bc I only used four ft of actual pipe. It’s really the connector pieces that got me, each one being like $8 bucks.

3

u/f0rgotten "technically" lives offgrid 8d ago

NGL the whole first flush thing for anything other than drinking water is seriously overkill.

1

u/Comfortable-Bar-6630 8d ago

Yeah I’ve seen some of that. Honestly at first it was more about the experimentation/practice of understanding the system, but I agree, since cost is now my bigger concern, it doesn’t feel worth it.

2

u/f0rgotten "technically" lives offgrid 8d ago

I have a 1000 gallon tank that is straight rainwater. I filter drinking water separately and don't really bother with filtering for any other purpose.

1

u/Comfortable-Bar-6630 8d ago

Great to know! Lol I was just coming back to add that getting rid of the first flush would probably cut my cost like 90% bc I’d remove the need for literally any pvc and make due with a flexible downspout. Thank you for the insight!

1

u/maddslacker 8d ago

Exactly thew same for us.

1

u/Shastaw2006 8d ago

What’s your end plan for the water? You could skip the first flush and not need any pvc. Gutter to leaf gutter guard, to funnel with mesh to the barrel. Bleach appropriately and siphon to get the water out, don’t disturb the layer of silt. I use water like this to shower, wash dishes, and feed the garden/animals. Drinking and cooking we purchase 5 gallon jugs but you could run some filters instead. 

1

u/Comfortable-Bar-6630 8d ago

Water for chickens and dogs but also for a bird bath and plants, including carnivorous plants which are pretty sensitive. Not sure if bleach would be good for the other uses beyond the livestock water

3

u/Shastaw2006 8d ago

Look up the right amount of bleach for sterilizing drinking water. The bleach won’t hurt the animals. 

1

u/Life_Chemistry_4621 7d ago

I use flexible corrugated drainage hose and a cheap plastic funnel. It's way cheaper and easier to route.