OFF GRID Rainwater Harvesting – Part 1 concrete foundation

Rainwater Harvesting System Drain Plumbing

setting drain pipes in place under the tank gravel

There will be a perforated pipe to collect water under the tank and this is connected to a pipe for the tank overflow.

setting drain pipes in place under the tank gravel

With the pipes and fittings cut and layed out I’ll add some drain fabric.

setting drain pipes in place under the tank gravel

And the cats come to inspect the work.

OFF GRID Rainwater Harvesting System - setting drain pipes in place under the tank gravel

I can start to glue the pipe and fittings and add some drain rock as I go. And then cover with more fabric.

Mixing Concrete

OFF GRID Rainwater Harvesting System - pouring concrete with a mixer into the forms

I applied some vegetable oil to the inside of the forms so the concrete would not stick. The curb will be reinforced with rebar, and it’s suspended from wire to keep it centered in the forms during the pour.

pouring concrete with a mixer into the forms

We fired up the concrete mixer and spent a few hours filling the forms.

Hand Filling Forms

pouring concrete with a mixer into the forms

I added anchor bolts before the concrete set up. Then covered the forms with plastic and left overnight.

setting an anchor bolt in the wet concrete

Strip the Forms

Here’s the mending board coming off an inside form wall.

OFF GRID Rainwater Harvesting System - stripping the concrete form from the poured base curb walls

stripping the concrete form from the poured base curb walls

I found this worked well and made it easy to strip the inside walls.

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stripping the concrete form from the poured base curb walls

I’d say the best part about concrete work is stripping forms. Very satisfying!

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