French Drains vs. Gutters

[Dover]

I'm toying with building a french drain and foregoing a gutter system.
I suppose it is six of one, half dozen of another with the differences between the two systems being primarily aesthetic. The french drains are quite an old concept and only the materials to build them have changed somewhat. They can be used to channel excess water away from one area (usually around a building's foundations) to benefit another, but my own interest is in channeling the water into a cistern to use as a potable water source.

F. Drains certainly do away with the leaf and debris problem although I believe new gutter systems have almost eliminated that problem as well. I'm guessing a french drain would still present a sediment problem which could likely be fixed with some sort of settling pond or tank prior to emptying into a cistern. And I was considering whether adding charcoal to the drain's sand and gravel mix might also help with purification.

Anyhoo, I'm researching that option and wonder if anyone with experience or hydraulics expertise might have something to offer in terms of the best way to go about it.


Some google sites here:

http://images.google.com/images?hl=en&q=french%20drain&um=1&ie=UTF-8&sa=N&tab=wi

http://www.floridata.com/tracks/transplantedgardener/FrenchDrains.cfm


*edited for spelling

[MercutioATC]

1. You do realize that rainwater is not potable without further filtration, right?

Bird feces, airborne pollutants, microorganisms...

You don't have to go high-tech, but you do have to purify rainwater before it's safe to dring (or, depending on your degree of comfortability), shower in.

[Dover]

3. Yes, thanks. From the cistern it would be treated just like any rainwater collection system

with filters, UV and pump sending it back to the house. The drains are just another version of the gutters (but no ladders needed to clean them!). Also thought about reverse osmosis as an option.

Tx. Manual For Rainwater Collection: http://www.twdb.state.tx.us/publications/reports/RainwaterHarvestingManual_3rdedition.pdf

[safeinOhio]

2. I just dug one

Have some water in basement, so I added one 65 feet long to help take some more water away from house. Next I'm going to install 5 or 6 inch gutters and add a couple of down spouts. I'd say they are easy to install. Hardest part was getting the sock over the tile. It keeps the dirt out, so holes don't plug up. Cheap and easy DIY project.

[Dover]

4. A 'sock'?

I was reading something about wrapping the pipe in some geotextile cloth that is porous. Is that what you're referring to?

[safeinOhio]

5. Yes

At Home Depot they called it a sock. Reminded me of cheese cloth. Imagine a lady pulling 65 feet of panty hose on.

[Nihil]

6. That's not a lady ... that's a centipede!

:silly: