Rainwater Collection in the Campo
The fact that we’ve been pumping water from the 8000 litre cisterna under our living room, to the depositos at the top of the finca, plus Jan’s post about doing the same thing made me realise how water obsessive I now am. We save as much water as possible as we have no supply apart from the sky and the occasional tractorload.
Ideas for saving water are for another time. But for now, if you are gardening in Spain can I direct you to your local independent builders merchant (not Leroy Merlin please). There you will find an array of the ubiquitous Spanish water drum (formally a home to some terrible chemical concoction I’m sure). For around eleven euros you should be able to get yourself a water capture system! If you’re very lucky they may even come with lids. We’re happy to dip a watering can into ours and water by hand but the ferreterias all seem to sell plastic tap kits which are cheap and cheerful for improving your water barrel.
Properly designed, pretty water butts are fine if that’s your thing but the price is a tad, well, pricey. If you want to save rainwater for use on the huerto or flower border its well worth investing in these 240 litre barrels. Pretty they are not, but useful, yes, ever so!
Similarly if you’re after something bigger the 1000 and 800 litre cubes can often be found second hand at builders merchants. It means you won’t know what went in it before, but a rinse out and its fine for your garden. Though I admit I would never want to shower in the water stored in ours. As the cubes are a white opaque plastic they will go green and stinky if stored in the sun but your plants won’t mind a bit! Really you should cover them as eventually the plastic will break down in the bright Spanish sunshine, but that’s a job for another day.
This is a thrifty money-saving tip brought to you from the Catalan Garden. Oh and did I mention more rain forecast for tomorrow so you need to get your water storage system arranged quickly!
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Hurray!!!!! We want more rain! And thanks for the link
Seriously though, living this way makes you very conscious of the amount of water that you use and visitors say that they go back to the UK and don’t flush the toilet… much to the disgust of their family and friends!
Jan’s last blog post..Welcome Home!
Personally, i like the 1000 litre cubes, that’s basically the first thing i want to see when i enter the garden, well besides the garden itself that is hehe, placed right near the hay stack for some extra shade. Just hook up a hose to it, and let the water flow. I do have to admit that collecting rain water wasn’t really an issue. Didn’t really cross my mind till 2 months ago, when i saw a barrel in front of a building with collecting all the water from the roof. Quite a nice and easy way to water the front garden and do a tiny bit of landscaping. Thanks for the tips!