Water Collector

[Wayland]

When it rains I often hang something from the edge of my tarp to tighten it up and stop water pooling in the fabric.

Providing your tarp is kept reasonably clean, this rainwater could be used for cooking, washing or even drinking if treated properly.

Often what I do is hang a “Millbank” bag on the tarp with a drip line to carry the water into the bag instead of just over the edge.

This little project is for direct collection into a metal bottle and was inspired by some commercial gizmos I saw Stuart with at the weekend. It's cheap and very easy to make.

http://www.ravenlore.co.uk/assets/images/Water-collector-1.jpg
http://www.ravenlore.co.uk/assets/images/Water-collector-2.jpg

It started out as a spare lid from an old aluminium bottle that had seen better days, a small pudding basin, aluminium in this case (50p from Tesco), and a short length of tubing.

The lid has a loop in it that makes hanging the collector easy and a bit of nylon cord finishes the list.

The pudding basin is drilled in the base to fit the threaded portion of the lid.

The lid is drilled with a large hole in the top to fit the tube and some smaller holes around the lid to drain into the hollow centre of the lid.

The tube should be a tight fit and is cut long enough to clear the top of the basin when it is screwed together.

In use the cord loop attaches to the edge of the tarp and water running off the tarp follows the easiest route down the cord, filling the basin.

The small drain holes filter out larger bits like leaf debris and pine needles while the pipe, standing above the water line, will prevent the system developing an air lock.

The whole collector now acts as the weight I would normally add to tension the tarp.

The water can now be stored by replacing the undrilled bottle lid and the collector weighs only an ounce or so.

[Pignut]

Nice one wayland!

[giancarlo]

Great idea mate...
The thought never even crossed my mind of doing something like that

[Ogri the trog]

Wayland,
Thats just not fair. I've been working on something similar for a few weeks and in you jump in with something as profesional as this. I had thought of plastic funnels, tubing, in-line filters and old 500ml drinks bottles. Your set up is pure genius using the pudding bowl is inspired, I'll be stealing your ideas over the next few weeks to replace my very "Heath Robinson" lash-up.
One question though, is the central tube (anti-air lock) out of necessity from experience, or a pre-emptive quirk just in case?
I'd like to use some form of filter inside the lid, though it'd have to be easy to remove/clean/replace.

Thanks for sharing.

Ogri the trog

[Wayland]

I tried it first with just the holes in the sides and top of the lid but found that the bowl filled up above the top hole too quickly creating an air lock which and took time to drain.

In practice the bowl filled right to the top and overflowed which meant water was wasted, not too much of a problem this week but possibly a problem at other times. :bluThinki

With the tube in place the water drains into the bottle much faster. :D

I did think about a filter, one thought was filter paper in the bowl or something but all the methods I could think of would slow the system down to the point of wasting water. The millbank bag for example always filled faster than it would drain.

I think it's probably better to collect the water and then treat it according to use. The small drain holes take out the leaf litter and insects fairly well. I would filter and boil the drinking water if required or just use other water as is.

That said, providing the tarp is fairly clean rainwater should be OK for use most of the time anyway.

[Ogri the trog]

Thanks for your thoughts Wayland,
I'll use the anti-airlock breather then, as it appears to be necessary.
My thoughts on a filter were firstly to put a plug of open cell foam up inside the lid - but further to this, it might be a lot easier to put a ring of foam around the outside of the lid, making it more convenient to pull off and shake any accumilated debris off - providing that it is capable of flowing enough to fill the bottle rather than spill over the top as you said. The Millbank idea has to be a runner as well, and I'll have to get used to keeping "raw" water seperate from "treated/boiled" stuff.

ATB

Ogri the trog

[twisted firestarter]

Another top creation Wayland ;)

I just wondered if you had considered a second alu bowl as a drinking recepticle?

Where did you get that shiny bottle from by the way?

[litefoot]

nice little set up wayland,i thought i saw you eyeing up stuart`s little tarp funnels quite keenly after the jungle talk on saturday.
litefoot.:)

[Wayland]

Another top creation Wayland ;)

I just wondered if you had considered a second alu bowl as a drinking recepticle?

Where did you get that shiny bottle from by the way?

The bowls are certainly light enough but I already have a cup I like.

The bottle is Stainless Steel and I got it from Andrew at Outdoorcode.

[Scots_Charles_River]

Great idea. I remember reading/hearing/seeing something about the treatment on bashas/tarps to be harmful for drinking, straight away, after run off collection. Maybe something about he IR treatment?

Nick

[Wayland]

I guess that might be a problem with military bashas. :AR15firin You'd have to check that out.

Doesn't seem to be a problem on my poly cotton civilian ones though. Can't think of anything on them that could cause contamination. :dunno:

[Wayland]

Oops.. just realised the pudding basin was 98p not 50p.

It's still cheaper than these (http://www.hennessyhammock.com/new-products.html).....:D

[oops56]

Speaking of water i going to make a bob bag small for my car things like a alcohol stove some pots coffee & noddles all that need be to do just stop have drink or smething to eat. Now i got some sigg bottles made for water only how long will tap water stay good in the them or do i need to boil first or treat it.

[Wayland]

I keep a bottle and a larger container of tap water in my car for emergencies and such like. I refresh it each year just in case but the old water still seems OK when I do.

I think the trick is to make sure there is virtually no air in the bottle.