Royal Agricultural College Rain Harvesting on the Farm Tom Overbury

Royal Agricultural College Water supply to house put in in1935 Some pipework replaced in 1980’s No mains supply to farm buildings

Royal Agricultural College Now being replaced by wind generator and solar panels

Royal Agricultural College Water harvesting driven by need/meaness Two set ups of two buildings each 60 x 4-6 month calves in each building

Royal Agricultural College First uses 3 open tanks

Royal Agricultural College Each tank is 5.4 m 3 (1,200 gallon)

Royal Agricultural College Second set up uses glass fibre tank Tank capacity 28 m 3 28,000 litres (6,000 gallons)

Royal Agricultural College Water collection Localised flooding Upkeep of guttering important

Royal Agricultural College Water quality Can be stagnant water problems Leaves, debris, dead partridges Clean out prior to use Guaranteed to stop it raining

Royal Agricultural College Over two buildings, 12.5 mm (½ in) of rain yields 6.3 m 3 of water (60 x 40 ft and 80 x 40 ft) (18 x 12 m and 24 x 12 m) Average winter monthly rainfall is say 80mm

Royal Agricultural College Potential savings Average monthly winter rainfall Nov-Jan90mm per month Feb-Mar 80 mm per month April70 mm Over two buildings, 80mm gives 40m 3 Less 15% for evaporation gives 34m 3 At cost of £1.13 / m 3 = £38.40 N.B. Not all winter water is used

Royal Agricultural College Potential savings Say use 15 litres per calf per day 120 calves use 54 m 3 per month At cost of £1.13 / m 3 = £61.00 per month

Royal Agricultural College Once you have routed all the run off to one place, it is crucial to allow for the excess once the tanks are full.

Royal Agricultural College MDC Effective use of Water on Dairy Farms Useful information: