In case you’re interested.

I have a complicated system of collecting water from various roof areas and shifting it around into various containers. In 15 separate vessels I have arond 4000L of stored water. I have just added 2000L more, in the shape of two intermediate bulk containers (IBC’s), in the simplest way possible. Let me give you the details.

The two IBC’s came from Toucan Environmental Ltd. I placed the order on a Monday and it was delivered the following day.

I ordered 2 x 1000 Litre Reconditioned ‘A’ Grade Black IBC’s @ £80 each. Carriage was £65 and VAT £45, totalling £270.00. The two IBC’s came in a small truck and were moved to the house end of our driveway on a pallet truck. They appeared to be as good as new, one even had a foil seal over the end of the outlet pipe. I ordered black as it will reduce problems with algae growing in the stored water, on the other hand, I can’t see how much water is in the tank.

I prepared a level area tight into a corner of the garden where I had pots and other sundry items stored, then with the assistance of one helper, moved the IBC’s into position. I am stacking one on top of the other, which is supposedly OK, even when full. To move them, I removed the two bars holding the tank in its cage, then removed the tank. (T40 torx screws) We then lifted the cage over a six foot gateway and carried it to where it needed to go. 75% of the weight of the IBC is the galvanized steel cage, the tank is bulky but lightweight. The tank was put back in the cage, the bars fitted and the whole pushed into position. The second IBC was moved in the same way, then lifted on top of the first. A rope from the back corner of the cage over a branch of the overhanging tree, proved helpful to lift the back corner of both IBC’s, which we couldn’t get to.

I bought two replacement caps on Amazon, with 1″ BSP female threads. These were Sukodon IBC Tank Adapter S60X6 Coarse Thread Cap to 1″ Garden Hose Connector. (£6.99ea) These caps are available with a range of fittings, male and female, a 3/4″ male with a screw on quick connector would have been the simplest setup, but I had put the tanks in sideways and needed a bit more. With more of the same kit I could take the water anywhere I need it.

What I ended up with, partly from a couple of items being out of stock was as follows:

Sukodon cap with 1″ female thread.
Reducing bush, 1″ – 3/4″.
Tavlit Nut Lock Elbow 20mm – 3/4″ male thread*
Length of 20mm black LDPE pipe *
Tavlit Nut Lock Tap 20mm *
Brass Tap Connector with quick connector 3/4″ thread *

Items marked * came from Easy Irrigation but are widely available in various forms. I don’t find simple barbed fittings with no locking system to be reliably water tight.

I can fill the top tank through the filler cap at the top but can’t get to the filler cap on the lower tank. I have removed it and capped the hole with a plant pot saucer; I will fill it as I empty it, via its outlet. I can pump water in until it overflows, then turn off the tap. (I have now filled the lower tank, it took an hour to fill. It isn’t leaking, yet. I’m a little nervous about filling the top tank, that’s a lot of weight)

When I need the water, I will connect a hose to an IBC, the other end to my row of six 210L water butts and let gravity do the work. From there I will pump it into my 1500L tank using a cheapish Draper submersible pump. The 1500L tank has a very capable Dab submersible pump which can move the water to wherever I need it, though in practice, much of it is run into a watering can via a siphon pipe.

All that remains is to clear enough space on the shelf to get some plants back and disguise the whole thing as best I can. Time, and ivy, will do the job eventually.