ᐅ Rainwater Harvesting Cistern for Garden Irrigation – Which Pump Should I Use?

immermehr schrieb:

Thank you for your reply.
Originally, I wanted to implement it like my first plan (see attachment). However, in that case, I have to climb down with a ladder every time for maintenance or repairs. I would prefer to avoid that.

Thanks to your suggestion, I think the second plan is better. But with this solution, I need 3 fittings instead of 2 as mentioned in your text. With this setup, I will probably lose a lot of pressure.

Did I make any mistakes in my thinking here?
Maybe you have a better idea?

How did you eventually set it up in the cistern? And what are your experiences? Thanks

world-e schrieb:

How did you eventually do it with the cistern? And what are the experiences? Thanks

I bent both pipes "with force" and then used a 90° fitting. It was cold, and the pipes were hard to bend, but I managed it.

immermehr schrieb:

I bent both pipes "with force" and then used a 90° connector. It was cold, and the pipes were difficult to bend. But I managed it.

Which of the sketches did you end up using?

world-e schrieb:

Which of the sketches did you end up implementing?

None of them, but Plan 3 instead (see attachment)

Hello everyone,

I’m revisiting this topic because our outdoor areas will be partly done soon, and I want to start planning. I’ve attached a picture showing the current layout.

- Purple marks the house
- Gray indicates the paved areas
- Green is planned for planting, however that may look later...
- The blue circle at the corner of the house is the cistern (~7.5m³ (7,900 gallons))
- The black line is the electrical supply, which can be switched inside the house
- The thin blue lines with ‘Xen’ at the ends indicate where I would like to have water outlets or where I can imagine having them
- All watering will be done manually with a hose. We want to do it ourselves and don’t want any automatic irrigation systems. It’s basically a lifestyle choice to water the garden by hand.

Based on these ideas, I have the following questions:

- There have already been some tips about pumps here. If I choose the Gardena Comfort 6000 for my needs, am I likely making a good choice?
- What is the best way to lay the electrical cable? I will have a cable about 20m (65 feet) long coming from the wall. Should I route the cable into the cistern, attach a standard socket connection (Schuko coupling), and then just plug in the pump? Or is it done differently? Should the pump’s cable exit the cistern and then be connected on the outside?
- How should the cable be laid underground?

- How should the pump be mounted inside the cistern?

- For the three planned outlets, I was thinking of using standard water spigots. How do I route the hose from the pump to the different points? Can I simply use a normal hose splitter and regular garden hose, or are there special hoses for this?

That’s enough questions for now. I’m sure more will come up as the discussion continues.
I hope what I mean is clear.
Thanks and best regards

You can use the Tipp pump or another brand if you prefer.
From the pump outlet, use PE-HD pipe or hose, ideally DN32 (about 1.25 inches).
Consider whether you want sprinklers mounted on risers or simply pop-up heads. In-ground valves would be easier and more cost-effective. I would recommend Rain Bird or Hunter valves. Gardena is less durable and you mostly pay for the brand name.
The power cable should run inside a conduit. The connection can be made inside the cistern (above the overflow). Whether using a plug or hardwired, I suggest installing it in a weatherproof enclosure.
The control system is convenient for winter use. In summer, the (recommended Tipp) pump is always powered. Once the pressure is reached, it switches off. If you connect a hose and open the spray nozzle, the pressure drops and the pump activates…