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General: IBC rainwater storage

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1 to 26 of 26

  1.  
    • CommentAuthorRex
    • CommentTimeAug 7th 2026 edited
     
    What ho one and all,

    Have a 6000 liter rainwater collection tank in the garden (mainly for toilet flushing but also garden use) and it has of course, been empty for the past two months.

    Wish I had installed an even larger tank but 15 years ago, who could predict this extended drought.

    So at the behest of SWMBO, I am investigating most likely, one (or perhaps two) IBC and how to fill. Obviously, the best location is somewhere that I can divert rainwater but the design of the house is such that the only place would be against a side wall and these are somewhat ugly things.

    Since the loft tank (for flushing) is filled by a submersible timer pump, I could access the pipe and T off to an IBC situated in a less obnoxious location. But is it possible to install a ball valve in an IBC so that when fill, it does not overflow?

    I have not researched this idea but thoughts would be welcome.
    •  
      CommentAuthordjh
    • CommentTimeAug 7th 2026
     
    We have a similarly empty IBC on our front porch, filled by a rainwater diverter from the downpipe. But nobody ever even sees it because it's inside a cedarwood 'cupboard'. Even a wooden fence would hide yours.

    I'm not quite sure what you intend with the ball valve, but I'm sure you can install whatever you want in an IBC. Simplest is to drill holes through the side to fix plumbing to or through and pass whatever parts you want inside through the opening in the top. But if you wanted to install anything bigger then just cut a piece out of the side, or top, and glue it back in place with some extra material acting as a flange afterwards.
    •  
      CommentAuthorfostertom
    • CommentTimeAug 7th 2026 edited
     
    An 'Essex flange' type pipe connector can be fitted entirely from the outside https://www.bes.co.uk/22-mm-compression-outlet-brass-essex-cylinder-flange-17541/ Blimey is that the price of em now? I have them as 22mm outlet on my pr of black plastic 1500 litre orange juice barrels - all long run dry of course - where can I get more - £80 ea delivered then, now £260 + carriage + VAT
    • CommentAuthorRex
    • CommentTimeAug 7th 2026
     
    This is the house, albeit quite a few years ago before the garden grew to the extent that the house is no longer clearly visible from the road. The garden is SWMBO's first love (I think) and her fingers are very, very green.

    Any tank is likely to go under the eves on the right side but even a 1m x 1m footprint IBC would somewhat block the path, which is extensively used for front / back garden access. Slightly behind the house, but on the right side, is her shed which an IBC (or two stacked) could hide behind. Beside the shed would be challenging to get a gravity feed water supply from the roof. Hence the thought of using the existing pump and the float valve shutting the flow when the tank is full. My current thought is to fit the valve into the screw top with some kind of right angle adapter for top entry; it seems most float valves are side entry.

    But if any other tank with a diverted water feed, what happens when the tank if full? Does the water go to waste via an overflow?
      _RAB7231 (Medium).jpg
    •  
      CommentAuthorfostertom
    • CommentTimeAug 7th 2026
     
    I do like a good overhang!
    Can't you extend the right hand gutter, or an overhead 1" hose, to behind the shed?
    •  
      CommentAuthordjh
    • CommentTimeAug 7th 2026
     
    Posted By: RexBut if any other tank with a diverted water feed, what happens when the tank if full?
    The diverter just takes part of the water flowing from the roof. If the tank is full then the pipe connecting the diverter to the tank is also full and all the water runs down the downpipe as normal.

    IBCs have a ready made outlet with tap at the bottom, so there's no need to make an outlet.
    • CommentAuthorRex
    • CommentTimeAug 7th 2026
     
    Yes, the overhang is brilliant. We have two neighbours who built their houses around the same time. No overhang and they either have cracking render (1" sand/cement; ours is thin with a reinforcing layer mesh) and both have had to paint their rendered walls. I have done exactly zilch.

    Not so easy to extend the guttering as it is not quite the regular type. Extruded ali but has a top covering; the curve on the top allows water to swing in via capillary action but leaves just get washed off. I get no leaves settling which means the rainwater tank filter does not get easily blocked.
    •  
      CommentAuthorfostertom
    • CommentTimeAug 8th 2026 edited
     
    Posted By: Rexnot quite the regular type
    no longer available? Do you have a link, sounds interesting. You could still bridge by 1" hose, esp if free of leaf blockage.
    • CommentAuthorowlman
    • CommentTimeAug 8th 2026
     
    Drop a small submersible pump with float activator into the top of the IBC and then pump the water into your existing tank. Divert the rainwater to fill the IBC via a small lidded container e.g. black plastic header tank into which you fill porous aquarium sponge filter medium.
    As djh says for a permanent job you can hide the IBC with a wood surround, you can also buy fabric covers for them.
  10.  
    Would a 600 wide (600ltr) IBC or two avoid narrowing the path at the side of the house too much? Yes, more costly than 'standard' 1000 ltr, but needs must...?
    • CommentAuthorRex
    • CommentTimeAug 8th 2026 edited
     
    This is the guttering I have. Looks cool, works well with a big(ish) but. When I saw it at a show, water just holding onto the top surface and dropping into the gutter. Brilliant, no leaves. The but is that when it gets dirty with all the airborne dust, etc, the surface tension is nowhere near as effective, and quite a lot of water drips directly off the vertical edge, missing the guttering.

    So a couple of times a year, I give it a wipe down to remove dirt, dust and algae, which tends to grow on the bottom because water is not holding to the top curve.

    https://seamlessaluminium.co.uk/products/gutter-systems/slip-gutter-system/

    In all honesty, can't say I recommend it unless you have easy access to wipe down.
    •  
      CommentAuthordjh
    • CommentTimeAug 8th 2026
     
    Interesting product, but it sounds like it's a flawed concept. TANSTAAFL :devil:
    • CommentAuthorRex
    • CommentTimeAug 9th 2026
     
    Agreed, although it does prevent leaves blocking the system or collection tank filter.

    Have been considering IBC filling and believe I am over-thinking the job. Since the stored water will only be necessary during a summer drought (as now) the tanks would aways be full since the last major rainfall; most likely full from spring until needed during late summer.

    Rather than filling from downpipes, when the main 6k liter tank is full (ish), connect a hose from one of the outside taps to the IBC and fill. The water level in the 6k will be reduced and will be replenish at the next rain. Additionally, the existing pipe to the loft tank for toilet flushing, although buried, is a continuous pipe from the external tank to the loft and it is not the greatest idea to inset a branch. If it ain't broke, don't fix it!
    • CommentAuthorMike1
    • CommentTimeAug 12th 2026
     
    Posted By: Rexthe tanks would aways be full since the last major rainfall; most likely full from spring until needed during late summer.
    If you're thinking of using a translucent tank, you may need to think about protecting it from sunlight to avoid brewing a tank of algae over that kind of timescale.
  15.  
    If the existing 6k litre tank has run out two months ago, will adding another 1k change anything much?

    You could hide another 6k or 10k tank behind a shed? (Or under a shed?)
    • CommentAuthorRex
    • CommentTimeAug 13th 2026
     
    Probably the main uses of the 6k liter tank is for toilet flushing. Given this long period of no rain, another 2k liters would make a bit of a difference to the garden but certainly not significant. But SWMBO is only watering the plants that need water, we do not use any drip or sprinkler system.

    I see that black IBC are sometimes available. Any thoughts on black v. regular with a black cover and/or fencing to provide shade? I am inclined towards the later as for any cleaning, it is easy to see inside with translucent.

    I do an annual clean of the 6k tank; but impossible to see what I am doing. When virtually empty, lean inside and jet wash while using a submersible puddle pump to get rid to the muddy water.

    Guess the same can be done with a black IBC just by lifting the rear and allowing the muddy water to drain from the outlet.
    • CommentAuthorMike1
    • CommentTimeAug 17th 2026
     
    Posted By: RexI see that black IBC are sometimes available. Any thoughts on black v. regular with a black cover and/or fencing to provide shade?
    I've only seen the translucent ones in use - it would depend on whether the black ones are black enough to exclude the sun, in the same way that a regular rainwater tank is. A black cover would need to meet the same criterion, as well as being UV-stable.
    • CommentAuthorRex
    • CommentTimeAug 25th 2026
     
    Just a heads-up; have managed to source two IBC tanks for the vast price of £15 each. Now to 'fight' with SWMBO as to where they will be situated!!!
    •  
      CommentAuthorfostertom
    • CommentTimeAug 25th 2026 edited
     
    Posted By: RexIBC tanks for the vast price of £15 each
    Well done - the going price is £120, still cheaper pro rata than £250 for a 1500litre black orange juice barrel (can actually take 1900litres), of which we have two from when they used to be £100, but ran out much too soon this year. I'm now thinking what we need is more guttering (on un-guttered barns) to feed what we have, to capture much more of these last few bits of rain, rather than more tanks.
    • CommentAuthorRex
    • CommentTimeAug 29th 2026
     
    Apart from leveling the area for the IBC tanks to sit, what kind of 'foundation' is necessary?
    Can I put the tanks on breeze-blocks sitting on compacted earth or do I need to paving slabs to distribute the load?
  21.  
    •  
      CommentAuthordjh
    • CommentTimeAug 29th 2026
     
    Posted By: RexApart from leveling the area for the IBC tanks to sit, what kind of 'foundation' is necessary?
    An IBC holds 1000 litres, so 1000 kg, so 1 tonne. So whatever foundation you need on your soil to properly support 1 tonne/m² (or 9.87 kN/m²)
    • CommentAuthorphiledge
    • CommentTimeAug 30th 2026
     
    Unless you need them raised up just put them direct on the soil??
  24.  
    Another thought: IBCs usually come with a pallet style base, which is sometimes wood or steel. These need to be raised a little so they don't end up standing in a puddle all winter. The IBCs with plastic bases are more durable.


    Lost track of whether the IBC will have a pump-out or if you're just going to have a tap. If the tap then mount it up on enough blocks that you can get a bucket or can underneath the tap and out again without tilting and spilling.
    • CommentAuthordathi
    • CommentTimeAug 31st 2026
     
    i buried an ibc in garden about 16 years ago still going strong. dug hole cast 100mm concrete base removed the pallet from ibc filled it with water and cast 80mm conc around tank. if you google koi pond fittings you will get connectors to connect pipe work to the ibc . I just use it to water plants has a pump with pressure switch to tap
    • CommentAuthorRex
    • CommentTimeAug 31st 2026
     
    Gentlemen, thanks for the comments. The are they will be is slightly sloped so i will figure out how to level it and put them onto blocks so we (SWMBO) can get a watering can under. Will find a few paving slabs as a base.

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