More on water butt mains filling

[Sardo1]

Hi,

Further to simpics thread (//www.diynot.com/forums/plumbing/water-butt-filling-question.361735/), I have been trying to come up with a cost effective way to have my water butt filled up by the mains as a backup to maintain a minimum water level.

My proposed solution involves a float which is buoyant enough to suspend a weight, and the weight needs to be heavy enough to open a valve when hanging freely.

On the attachment:

1. Water butt is full to the point of the overflow. Slack on chain connecting float to valve means valve remains closed in this state as weight is prevented from pulling on valve by float.

2. A few dry days and the water level decreases to a level where the float is suspended out of the water and no longer prevents the weight pulling on the valve, which it does, opening it and mains water begins to flow into the water butt.

3. The water level reaches the minimum level where float is now suspended and again creates slack on the chain as the weight is prevented from acting on the valve and the valve closes stopping the water flow.

So my question is, does such a valve exist? Could it stand the force of the mains pressure? And how cheap can I pick one up?

View media item 91143

 

[Agile]

You will likely fall foul of the water Regulations!

To sort of comply, the float valve would need to discharge about 150 mm ABOVE the over flow top of the water butt.

Although not strictly necessary, you would be advised to put a double non return valve in the supply to the valve.

In theory you could have a hollow float on a vertical shaft so it operates at a low level in the butt.

But it would need guides as you cannot put sideways forces on a standard float valve.

Tony

 

[Agile]

You will likely fall foul of the water Regulations!

To sort of comply, the float valve would need to discharge about 150 mm ABOVE the over flow top of the water butt.

Although not strictly necessary, you would be advised to put a double non return valve in the supply to the valve.

In theory you could have a hollow float on a vertical shaft so it operates at a low level in the butt.

But it would need guides as you cannot put sideways forces on a standard float valve.

Tony

 

[Sardo1]

You will likely fall foul of the water Regulations!

To sort of comply, the float valve would need to discharge about 150 mm ABOVE the over flow top of the water butt.

Although not strictly necessary, you would be advised to put a double non return valve in the supply to the valve.

In theory you could have a hollow float on a vertical shaft so it operates at a low level in the butt.

But it would need guides as you cannot put sideways forces on a standard float valve.

Tony

Thanks Tony.

Yes I am aware of the regulations, I don't think the 150 mm will be a problem.

Good call on the double non return valve.

I wasn't considering using a float valve, but the valve I need for my solution may not exist.

 

[Sardo1]

To sort of comply, the float valve would need to discharge about 150 mm ABOVE the over flow top of the water butt.

Or are you saying the valve needs to be 150 mm above the rim of the container?

 

[Agile]

The whole point of the WR is to prevent dirty butt water getting back into the mains should there be a loss of pressure.

So a flooded float valve low down, whilst the obvious solution, would not comply because the WR do not permit that. Even if you thought that a double non return valve would suffice!

Tony

 

[Sardo1]

The whole point of the WR is to prevent dirty butt water getting back into the mains should there be a loss of pressure.

So a flooded float valve low down, whilst the obvious solution, would not comply because the WR do not permit that. Even if you thought that a double non return valve would suffice!

Tony

OK. That is not the approach I was going to take. The valve would not be submerged at any time, that's what my design is looking to avoid.

Did you see the image I attached?

 

[Dan Robinson]

dirty butt water

Tony, your sari fetishism is reaching all new levels


150mm above the flood level? . Are you sure?


Op, why not just use a hose? . Or are you just trying to find a sneaky way past a potential hose pipe ban?

 

[Sardo1]

dirty butt water

Op, why not just use a hose? . Or are you just trying to find a sneaky way past a potential hose pipe ban?

I want to create an automated irrigation system fed by the water butt.

I need to ensure there is a minimum level of water to prevent the pump running dry and that may plants get watered even when there has not been rain.

 

[Dan Robinson]

What if there's a hose pipe ban?

 

[Sardo1]

What if there's a hose pipe ban?

Then I will turn off the mains connection to the butt from the tap