GB2504657A

GB2504657A - A rainwater collection and storage system

Info

Publication number: GB2504657A
Application number: GB1210462.6A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Duncan Mckenzie
Original assignee: RDP GARDEN PRODUCTS Ltd
Current assignee: RDP GARDEN PRODUCTS Ltd
Priority date: 2012-06-13
Filing date: 2012-06-13
Publication date: 2014-02-12
Also published as: GB201210462D0

Abstract

The invention relates to an apparatus for collecting and storing rainwater, the apparatus comprises: a collector vessel 2 having a capacity of at least 10 litres mounted at an elevated position in line with a downpipe D1-D2 and located so as to collect rainwater from the gutter G and downpipe. The apparatus has a rainwater storage container 8, 14 & 16 and a hose 6 linking an outlet 4 of the collector vessel to an inlet 10 of the rainwater storage container. The storage container may comprise first, second and third containers connected by siphon tubes12. The collector vessel is mounted so that the outlet is at least 20 cm above an upper end of the rainwater storage container. In use, collected rainwater is conveyed from the collector vessel through the distribution hose to the storage container under the action of gravity.

Description

A RAINWATER COLLECTION AND STORAGE SYSTEM

This invention relates to a rainwater collection and storage system, and more particularly to a system for collecting rain water and distributing it to one or more ancillary storage containers.

Background of the invention

Rainwater harvesting to provide non-potable water for a wide variety of uses is well known and many harvesting rainwater systems of varying degrees of complexity are commercially available.

A very simple and widely used method of harvesting rainwater consists of placing a water-collecting receptacle such as a water butt beneath a downpipe from a gutter.

Water butts intended for this purpose are available in a large variety of shapes and sizes with capacities ranging from just over 100 litres to 6-700 litres or more.

Simple water butts are generally freestanding and are provided with taps to allow water to be drawn off. It is also known to link water butts so that when one has filled up, any overflow spills over into the linked water butt.

In a variation of the above method, a diverter device is attached to a downpipe and diverts rainwater from the downpipe through a short length of tube to an inlet at the upper end of a water butt.

More complex systems are also known which comprise an underground storage tank linked by fixed pipe-work to dowipipes or other rainwater collections means.

Such systems, which can store up to several thousand litres of rainwater and/or waste water, typically include pumps for distributing collected water to a desired location.

Whilst existing methods of collecting rainwater are undoubtedly effective, the large size of rainwater butts can be a problem in that they can be somewhat unsightly and there can be problems using them in smaller properties or in locations where space is at a premium. These problems are exacerbated in situations where more than one water butt would be desirable. Even the large garden water butts commercially available at present are unable to store enough rainwater to last over the course of a dry summer. It is therefore commonplace for householders to use several water butts, often linked together in series.

A further problem is that the rainwater is frequently needed at locations that are remote from the point at which the water is collected. For example: rainwater collected from the roof of a house may be needed to water remote parts of a garden which, in longer gardens, can be 50 metres or more from a house.

Consequently, repeated journeys with a watering can back and forth between the rainwater collection point and the target location in the garden may be required.

At present, therefore, there remains a need for a simple, reliable and relatively inexpensive system that takes up less space in the immediate vicinity of the house, can store large volumes of rainwater, is more aesthetically pleasing, is able to store the harvested rainwater at the locations where it is intended to be used, and does not require energy consuming pumps in order to transfer the rainwater from the point of collection to the point or storage and use.

Summary of the Invention

The present invention sets out to provide a system for the collection and distribution of rainwater which distributes water from a collection point to one or more remote storage locations using a gravity-feed system.

Accordingly in a first embodiment, the invention provides apparatus for collecting and storing rainwater; which apparatus comprises: a collector vessel having a capacity of at least 10 litres mounted in an elevated position and located so as to collect rainwater from a downpipe; a rainwater storage container; a conduit linking an outlet of the collector vessel to the rainwater storage container; the collector vessel being mounted so that the said outlet is at least 20 cm above an upper end of the rainwater storage container; the apparatus being configured such that, in use, collected rainwater is conveyed from the collector vessel through the distribution conduit to the storage container under the action of gravity.

The collector vessel is mounted so that its outlet is at least 20 cm above an upper end of the rainwater storage container. More preferably, the outlet of the collector vessel is at least 25 cm (for example 25-35 cm or 28-32 cm) above an upper end of the rainwater storage container. By virtue of the difference in height between the outlet of the collector vessel and the upper end of the rainwater storage container, a sufficiently large head pressure of water is created to convey the collected rainwater to the storage container and more than compensate for frictional pressure loss in the conduit.

In particular, it has been found that by mounting a collector vessel in an elevated position so that its outlet is at a height of about 30 cm greater than the height the rainwater storage container, sufficient hydrostatic pressure is generated to enable collected rain water to be delivered to storage containers more than 50 metres away from the collector vessel.

The collector vessel is typically mounted in an elevated location on a wall or other supporting structure, the height of the location being chosen so that it is greater than the height of the water storage container as defined above. Thus gravity provides the means by which water is conveyed along the distribution conduits to the storage vessels.

The collector vessel is arranged so that it receives water from a downpipe, typically a downpipe from a rainwater gutter or channel on a roof or similar structure.

The collector vessel has a capacity of at least 10 litres, and typically up to about 80 litres. More usually, the collector vessel has a capacity of about 20 to 80 litres, more particularly 25 to 50 litres, for example 30-40 litres. The collector vessel is thus distinguished from known rainwater diverter devices used on downpipes, the known rainwater devices either having no storage capacity of a minimal storage capacity of no more than a few litres.

During relatively light rain, rainwater entering the collector will pass straight through the collector vessel and out through the outlet into the distribution conduit.

However! during heavier rain, when the rate of flow of water into the collector is greater than the outflow through the outlet into the conduit pipe, excess water is temporarily stored in the collector vessel before passing out into the distribution conduit. Thus the storage capacity of the collector provides a buffer and enables a much greater proportion of the rainwater passing down a downpipe to be collected than is possible with a standard diverter.

The collector vessel is preferably in-line with the downpipe. In this embodiment, a portion of the downpipe may be removed and the collector vessel fitted in its place.

In this embodiment, a diverter element is provided which diverts water from the downpipe laterally into a collection chamber of the collection vessel. The diverter element is typically configured and located so that it diverts substantially all water from the downpipe laterally into the collection chamber.

The diverter element may, for example, comprise a plate located below an end of an upper part of the downpipe and which prevents rainwater from passing into an lower part of the downpipe, instead diverting it into the collection chamber. The plate may be angled or curved to enhance its ability to divert rainwater into the collection chamber. For example, the plate may be substantially circular and may be domed.

By using a collector vessel of 30 litre capacity of more arranged in-line with a downpipe, and a diverter element as defined herein, it has been found that approximately 100% of the rain water passing down a downpipe can be harvested under all but the most extreme rainfall conditions.

The collector vessel is preferably provided with an overflow so that if excessively large volumes of water enter the vessel, excess water can be diverted back into the downpipe.

For example, a tubular (e.g. pipe-like) formation may be provided in the collector vessel which communicates at its lower end with a lower part of the downpipe beneath the collector vessel, the tubular formation having an open upper end which serves as an overflow.

Thus, if the water level in the water collection chamber rises too quickly, water will spill over the top edge of the tubular formation and drain away down the downpipe.

However: as indicated above, the capacity of the collector vessel is such that the overflow is only required in extreme rainfall conditions.

Thus, in a preferred embodiment, the collector vessel comprises: a tubular formation arranged in-line with the downpipe, a lower end of the tubular formation being linked to a lower portion of the downpipe beneath the collector vessel, and an upper end of the tubular formation being axially spaced apart from a lower end of an upper portion of the downpipe above the collector vessel; a water collection chamber arranged laterally with respect to the tubular formation, the water collection chamber an outlet connected to the distribution conduit; a diverfer element which diverts rainwater falling from the lower end of the portion of the downpipe above the collector vessel so that the rainwater collects in the water collection chamber; and wherein the upper end of the tubular formation serves as an overflow to allow excess water in the water collection chamber to flow into the portion of the downpipe beneath the collector vessel.

The water collection chamber is arranged laterally with respect to the tubular formation. The water collection chamber may, for example, partially or completely surround the tubular formation.

The tubular formation can be, for example, a length of pipe which may be identical or similardiameterto the downpipe or may have a slightly smaller diameter than the downpipe.

In one particular embodiment, the tubularformation (e.g. pipe) is located inside the water collection chamber, the diverter element serving to divert water from the portion of the downpipe above the water collector into the water collection chamber.

Preferably a filter is disposed between the water collection chamber and the lower end of the upper portion of the downpipe. The filter is permeable to water and is sufficiently coarse that it provides minimal hindrance to the passage of water therethrough but is sufficiently fine that it prevents particulate matter and debris such as leaf and twig material falling into the water collection chamber.

The filter can be formed from, for example, a polymeric foam material, e.g. polyurethane foam, or a metallic (e.g. wire) or plastics mesh material. When the filter is formed as a mesh, the holes in the mesh can have a diameter (or equivalent for non-round holes) of up to about 4 mm, for example 2-3 mm.

The collector vessel is typically formed from a moulded plastics material, for example a polyolefin such as polypropylene or polyethylene.

The storage container may advantageously be located remotely with respect to the collector vessel, for example up to 100 metres from the collector vessel. For example, the storage container may be at least 5 metres, or at least 10 metres, or at least 15 metres or at least 20 metres, or at least 25 metres, or at least 30 metres, or at least 50 metres from the collector vessel.

The water collector may have only one outlet for connection via a conduit to a water storage container, or it may have more than outlet, e.g. two outlets, for connection to two or more conduits. In this way, rainwater can be directed to different locations in a garden.

Thus, according to the invention, a rainwater storage container may be located remotely with respect to the collector vessel and be connected to the collector vessel by a distribution conduits.

The rainwater storage container is preferably located above ground, although it may be wholly or partially buried.

The rainwater storage container may vary in capacity from, for example, 130 litres up to about 750 litres.

The rainwater storage has an inlet which is connected to the disifibution conduit for receiving rainwater from the collector vessel.

The inlet is preferably located at or near the lower end of the storage container.

In an alternative but less preferred embodiment, the inlet is located at or towards an upper end of the storage container. In this embodiment, the flow of water through the inlet can be controlled by a float valve thereby preventing the storage container from overflowing.

Two or more rainwater storage containers may be linked together, an inlet on a first of the containers being connected to via conduit to the collector vessel, and one or more transfer pipes being provided for transferring water between adjacent containers. Thus, the water collector can be used to fill a bank of rainwater storage containers.

The transfer pipe can take the form of an overflow conduit (e.g. pipe or tube) linking the upper ends of each container. In this embodiment, the linked tubes will fill up in sequence, with the tube attached to the conduit from the collector vessel filling up first and then any overflow being directed into the second container in line andsoon More preferably, the transfer pipe takes the form of a siphon tube which extends in a U-shape from the bottom of one container up and over the edge of the container and into the adjacent container. It has been found that using this arrangement, the filling of a bank of storage containers overall is quicker since the second and further containers begin to fill straightaway. Furthermore, removing water from the first storage container will reduce the back pressure from the developing head of water in the first storage container which would otherwise oppose the flow of water into the container from the conduit linked to the collection vessel.

One or more of the rainwater storage containers may have a tap or other outlet at or towards the lower end of the container for extraction of water from the container.

Alternatively, or additionally, the rainwater storage containers may be open at their upper ends, or have a lid which can be removed, so that buckets, watering cans or other receptacles can be used to scoop water out of the container.

The rainwater storage containers are provided with vents or openings at their upper ends to allow escape of air as the water levels in the containers rises. For example, the containers may have lids containing one or more vent holes or the lids may be shaped so as to provide one or more air-escape channels.

The distribution conduit can be formed from pipes, hoses or combinations of pipes and hoses.

In one embodiment, the distribution conduit is formed from lengths of standard garden hose pipe material.

In a further aspect, the invention provides a collector vessel as defined herein, the collector vessel having a capacity of at least 10 litres (typically up to about 80 litres, more usually from about 20 to about 80 litres, more parbcularly 25 to 50 litres, for example 30-40 litres) and being configured to be fixed to a wall of a building in-line with a downpipe; the collector vessel comprising: a tubularformation which is use is arranged in-line with the downpipe, a lower end of the tubular formation forming a spigot which in is linked to a lower portion of a downpipe beneath the collector vessel; a water collection chamber arranged laterally with respect to the tubular S formation, the water collection chamber having an outlet for connection to a distribution conduit; a diverter element which diverts rainwater falling from the lower end of the portion of the downpipe above the collector vessel so that the rainwater collects in the water collection chamber; a filter positioned above the waler collection chamber and which filters rainwater diverted by the diverter element before the rainwater enlers the collection chamber; and wherein an upper end of the tubular formation serves as an overflow to allow excess water in the water collection chamber to flow into the portion of the downpipe beneath the collector vessel.

In a still further aspect, the invention provides an apparatus for collecting and storing rainwater; which apparatus comprises: a collector vessel mounted in an elevated position and located so as to collect rainwater from a downpipe; one or more rainwater storage containers connected to the collector vessel by one more distribution conduits; wherein collected rainwater is conveyed from the collector vessel through the one or more distribution conduits to the one or more storage containers by a the action of gravity.

In this embodiment, preferred and particular embodiments of the collector vessel, rainwater storage containers and distribution conduits may be as defined above.

The apparatus of the invention has a number of advantages over conventional garden rainwater collection systems.

Firstly, the apparatus of the invention allows large volumes of water be collected and then distributed to storage containers remote from the point of collection using only gravity to convey the water to the storage containers.

Secondly, it is not necessary for the collector vessel to have a large capacity. A capacity of up to about 80 litres and more usually about 30 50 litres is sufficient to allow approximately 100% of rainwater passing through a downpipe to be collected and stored in all but extreme conditions.

The relatively small size of the collector vessel means that it can be used in confined spaces (for example an alleyway at the side of a house) which would otherwise be too small to accommodate a rainwater collection system. The fact that the collector vessel is mounted at a height of about 2 metres or more on a wall further enhances its space saving properties.

Furthermore, the relatively small capacity of the collector vessel also means that it can be provided with a more aesthetically pleasing or compact shape (e.g. a flattened shape) so that it protrudes only a short distance away from a house wall.

These and other advantages of the apparatus of the invention will be apparent from the description of the illustrative embodiments described below.

Brief Description of the Drawings

Figure 1 is a schematic view of an apparatus according to one embodiment of the invention.

Figure 2 is an isometric view of the rainwater collector vessel of the apparatus of Figure 1.

Figure 3 is a view from above of the rainwater collector vessel of Figure 2.

Figure 4 is a view from the front of the rainwater collector vessel of Figures 2 and 3 but with the tap omitted.

Figure 5 is a rear view of the collector vessel of Figures 2 to 4.

Figure 6 is a side view of the collector vessel of Figures 2 tob.

Figure 7 is a view from above of the collector vessel of Figures 2 to 6 but with the filter removed.

Figure 8 is a sectional view along line A-A in Figure 6.

Figure 9 is a sectional view along line B-B in Figure 8.

Detailed Description of the Preferred Embodiments

The invention will now be described in more detail, but not limited, by reference to the specific embodiments illustrated in the accompanying drawings Figures ito 9.

Referring to the drawings, Figure 1 illustrates schematically an apparatus according to one embodiment of the invention.

The apparatus comprises a rainwater collector vessel 2 which is mounted in-line with a downpipe D1-D2 on the wall of a house H. Downpipe Di-D2 is attached at its upper end to a rainwater gutter G and at its lower end empties into a drain E. The rainwater collector vessel 2 is connected via a tap on outlet 4 and a distribution conduit in the form of a flexible hose 6 to the inlet 10 of a water storage container 8. Water storage container 8, which can be a conventional water butt, in this embodiment is attached via a siphon tube 12 to a second water storage container 14. The two ends (not shown) of the siphon tune extend to bottoms of the respective containers Sand 14. A third storage container 16 is connected via a second siphon tune 12 to the second storage container 14. The storage containers 8, 14 and 16 can be provided with taps (not shown) at their lower ends to enable water to be drawn off and/or they can be provided with removable lids (not shown) to allow water to be removed.

The rainwater collector vessel 2 is mounted on the wall at a height (e.g. 2 metres) whereby the bottom of the vessel and outlet 4 is at least 30 cm higher than the tops of the water containers 8, 14 and 16.

The downpipe D1-D2 is discontinuous and comprises upper and lower portions Dl and D2. The rainwater collector vessel 2 is attached to the wall between the lower end of the upper downpipe Dl and the upper end of the lower downpipe portion D2.

The structure of the rainwater collector vessel 2 is shown in more detail in Figures 2 to 9. Thus the rainwater collector vessel comprises a casing 20 formed by injection moulding from a plastics material such as polypropylene. The casing has two pairs of holes 22 and 24 which accommodate screws or bolts for fastening the collector vessel to the wall W. A tubularformation or pipe 26 is located inside the casing 20. The pipe 26 is aligned with the lower end of the end of the upper downpipe Dl and the upper end of the lower downpipe portion 02 and extends from a position just below the top of the casing down into the lower or sump region 28 of the casing and out though the lower wall of the sump 28 to form a spigot 30 which fits into and connects with the upper end of the lower downpipe portion D2.

Moulded into the side wall of the sump region 28 is a pair of internally threaded socket formations 32 to which taps 34 can be attached (see Figure 2). The taps are provided with external annular ridges to enable flexible hoses (e.g. conventional garden hoses) to be attached to them. If only one tap is required, the other socket formation can be closed off by means of a threaded blank. Although the embodiment illustrated has two outlets for connection to water storage containers, the sump region may be prtvided with only one outlet or more than two outlets, for example three or four outlets.

The upper end of the casing is open and is covered by a filter mesh 36 formed from a metal or plastics material. The filter mesh serves to prevent debris such as leaf material entering the casing. Supported on the centre of the filter mesh is a circular plate or cap 38 which is very slightly domed. The plate or cap 38 is aligned with the top of the pipe 26 and prevents water from the upper portion of the downpipe Dl from falling directly into the pipe 26.

In use, water from the gutter G drains into the upper portion Dl of the downpipe, passes down the downpipe Dl and falls onto the domed cap 38. The domed cap 38 prevents the water from entering the pipe 26. Instead, the water is deflected into the water collection chamber surrounding the pipe 26 where it makes its way into the sump region 28 of the casing. If the tap 34 is open, the rainwater will pass through the outlet 4 and down through and along the hose or distribution conduit 6 to the inlet 10 at the bottom of the rainwater storage container 8 and into the container. As rain continues to fall, the water level in the storage container 8 will gradually rise and water will enter the siphon tubes 12 and be carried over into the second and third containers 14 and 16. Thus, the three linked containers will gradually fill with rainwater at approximately the same rate until the three containers are full. Once the containers are full, the siphon tubes can be removed if desired.

An advantage of the siphon tube arrangement is that it enables all three containers to fill at the same time. This in turn means that the level of water and hence the head pressure in the first container is less than it would have been if the siphon tubes had been absent. Consequently, there is less resistance to water flowing into the container 8 through the inlet and therefore the three containers fill up more quickly than would be possible if the link between the three containers had been via overflow pipes.

With fairly gentle rainfall, the water entering the collector vessel will typically drain away through the tap 34 at outlet 4 more or less immediately. However, with harder and more prolonged rainfall, the rate of flow of rainwater into the collector vessel will be significantly greater than the rate of flow of the water out through the outlet 4 and tap 34 and therefore the level of water in the collector vessel 2 will gradually rise. The collector vessel therefore needs to have sufficient capacity to store the collected rainwater from prolonged hard rainfall until the water can drain away through the tap 4. It has been found that a collector vessel capacity of about 32 litres is sufficient under all but extreme rainfall conditions.

In the event of a torrential downpour, the water level in the collection chamber of the collector vessel will continue to rise much faster than water can be drained away through the outlet/tap 4134 until eventually the water level reaches the level of the top of the pipe 26. At this point, the water overflows into the tube 26 and from there into the lower portion D2 of the dowiipipe. Thus the pipe 26 acts as an overflow to accommodate unusually large volumes of water passing down the downpipe.

If desired, rainwater can be stored in the collector vessel 2 through the simple expedient of turning off the tap. However, the primary function of the collector vessel 2 is to collect the rainwater and then distribute it to one or more storage containers. The storage containers can be located at considerable distances from the collector vessel, for example up to fifty metres away. Because the collector vessel is at a greater height than the storage containers, the head pressure generated within the collector vessel and hose beneath the collector vessel is sufficient to push the rainwater through the relatively long lengths of hose to the storage containers.

A major benefit of the apparatus of the invention is that it enables rainwater to be collected from locations close to a house and then distributed to storage locations a considerable distance from the house and closer to a location (e.g. a vegetable garden) at which the water is needed without the need for electrical pumps or other energy consuming devices. The pressure required to convey the collected rain water to the remotely situated storage container is provided solely by gravity and the head pressure of water at the collector vessel end.

An advantage of the small size of the collector vessel, and the fact that it is mounted fairly high up in a wall or other supporting structure, is that it can be accommodated in locations where space is at a premium. Because the capacity of the collector vessel is not large, the vessel can be provided with a slimmer and more aesthetically pleasing profile than would be possible with standard larger capacity water collection butts.

In the apparatus illustrated in the drawings, the water enters the storage containers at an inlet 10 at the base of the container. However, in an altemative embodiment, the inlet can be at or near the top of the container in which case a float valve could be fitted to the inlet in order to prevent overfilling of the storage container.

Equivalents It will readily be apparent that numerous modifications and alterations may be made to the specific embodiments of the invention described above without departing from the principles underlying the invention. All such modifications and alterations are intended to be embraced by this application.

Claims

CLAIMS1. Apparatus for collecting and stodng rainwater; which apparatus comprises: a collector vessel having a capacity of at least 10 litres mounted in an elevated position and located so as to collect rainwater from a downpipe; a rainwater storage container; a conduit linking an outlet of the collector vessel to the rainwater storage container; the collector vessel being mounted so that the said outlet is at least 20 cm above an upper end of the rainwater storage container; the apparatus being configured such that, in use, collected rainwater is conveyed from the collector vessel through the distribution conduit to the storage container under the action of gravity.
2. Apparatus according to claim 1 wherein the collector vessel is mounted so that its outlet is at least 25 cm (for example 25-35cm or 28-32 cm) above an upperend of the rainwater storage container.
3. Apparatus according to claim 1 or claim 2 wherein the collector vessel has a capacity of up to about 80 litres.
4. Apparatus according to claim 3 wherein the collector vessel has a capacity of about 20 to 80 litres, more particularly 25 to 50 litres, for example 30-40 litres.
5. Apparatus according to any one of the preceding claims wherein the collector vessel is in-line with the downpipe.
6. Apparatus according to claim 5 wherein a diverter element is provided which diverts water from the downpipe laterally into a collection chamber of the collection vessel.
7. Apparatus according to claim 6 wherein the diverter comprises a plate located below an end of an upper part of the downpipe and which prevents rainwater from passing into an lower part of the downpipe, instead diverting it into the collection chamber.
8. Apparatus according to any one of the preceding claims wherein the collector vessel is provided with an overflow so that can be diverted back into the downpipe.
9. Apparatus according to claim 8 wherein a tubular (e.g. pipe-like) formation is provided in the collector vessel which communicates at its lower end with a lower part of the downpipe beneath the collector vessel, the tubular formation having an open upper end which serves as an overflow.
10. Apparatus according to any one of the preceding claims wherein the collector vessel comprises: a tubular formation arranged in-line with the downpipe, a lower end of the tubular formation being linked to a lower portion of the downpipe beneath the collector vessel, and an upper end of the tubularformation being axially spaced apart from a lower end of an upper portion of the downpipe above the collector vessel; a water collection chamber arranged laterally with respect to the tubular formation, the water collection chamber an outlet connected to the distribution conduit; a diverter element which diverts rainwater falling from the lower end of the portion of the downpipe above the collector vessel so that the rainwater collects in the water collection chamber; and wherein the upper end of the tubular formation serves as an overflow to allow excess water in the water collection chamber to flow into the portion of the downpipe beneath the collector vessel.
11. Apparatus according to claim 10 wherein a filter is disposed between the water collection chamber and the lower end of the upper portion of the downpipe.
12. Apparatus according to claim 11 wherein the filter is formed as a mesh, the mesh having holes of a diameter (or equivalent for non-round holes) of up to about 4 mm, for example 2-3 mm.
13. Apparatus according to claim 12 wherein the storage container is be located remotely with respect to the collector vessel, for example up to 100 metres from the collector vessel.
14. Apparatus according to claim 13 wherein the storage container is at least 5 metres, or at least 10 metres, or at least 15 metres or at least 20 metres, or at least 25 metres, or at least 30 metres, or at least 50 metres from the collector vessel.
15. Apparatus according to any one of the preceding claims wherein the water collector only one outlet for connection via a conduit to a water storage container, or has more than outlet, e.g. two outlets, for connection to two or more conduits.
16. Apparatus according to any one of the preceding claims wherein the rainwater storage container is located above ground.
17. Apparatus according to any one of the preceding claims wherein the rainwater storage container has an inlet which is connected to the distribution conduit for receiving rainwater from the collector vessel and the inlet is located at or near the lower end of the storage container.
18. Apparatus according to any one of the preceding claims wherein two or more rainwater storage are linked together, an inlet on a first of the containers being connected to via conduit to the collector vessel, and one or more transfer pipes being provided for transferring water between adjacent containers.
19. Apparatus according to claim 18 wherein the transfer pipe takes the form of a siphon tube which extends in a U-shape from the bottom of one container up and over the edge of the container and into the adjacent container.
20. A collector vessel configured to be used in an apparatus according to any one of the preceding claims, the collector vessel having a capacity of at least 10 litres (typically up to about 80 litres, more usually from about 20 to about 80 litres, more particularly 25 to 50 litres, for example 30-40 litres) and being configured to be fixed to a wall of a building in-line with a downpipe; the collector vessel comprising: a tubular formation which is use is arranged in-line with the downpipe, a lower end of the tubular formation forming a spigot which in is linked to a lower portion of a downpipe beneath the collector vessel; a water collection chamber arranged laterally with respect to the tubular formation, the water collection chamber having an outlet for connection to a distribution conduit; a diverter element which diverts rainwater falling from the lower end of the portion of the downpipe above the collector vessel so that the rainwater collects in the water collection chamber; a filter positioned above the water collection chamber and which filters rainwater diverted by the diverter element before the rainwater enters the collection chamber; and wherein an upper end of the tubularformation serves as an overflow to allow excess water in the water collection chamber to flow into the portion of the downpipe beneath the collector vessel.
21. An apparatus for collecting and storing rainwater; which apparatus comprises: a collector vessel mounted in an elevated position and located so as to collect rainwater from a downpipe; one or more rainwater storage containers connected to the collector vessel by one more distribution conduits; wherein collected rainwater is conveyed from the collector vessel through the one or more distribution conduits to the one or more remote storage containers by a head pressure of water in the collector vessel.
22. An apparatus substantially as described herein with reference to the accompanying drawings Figures ito 9.