Hi! Folks. I set out recently to build a Cistern to keep the water levels up in our bird bath. The Rainbow Loris and other spirited swimmers would visit for a splash about and the bath would be almost empty in minutes.
For about $60 (at Bunning’s) I built the set up below. It took longer to write it up for another string on this forum, then it took to build and install. So I figured I’d also post it here, as it works really well, and could be of use to others.
The challenge:
[pre]
• to maintain water levels in our bird bath
• to maintain an air gap between the birdbath water and the tank supply, to avoid
cross contamination.
(under Govt. regulation back flow into the mains supply must not occur if the mains pressure fails, so either a “back flow stop valve” or an air gap must be maintained)
• to minimise water loss if a hose fitting blows [/pre]
So these are the steps I suggest you follow:
Setting the mains tap to just drip/dribble, once the cistern is filled, means that minimum water will be lost if a hose blows. The cistern refills and shuts off effectively, it just takes a while.
By fitting an electronic tap timer and setting it to run for two minutes 4 times a day, a maximum of ~ 24 Litres of water would be used per day ( ie. 4 refills of the 1 ltr cistern and the 5 ltr bath).
Importantly, for a tank supply, using a timer means the pump won’t run intermittently or falsely detect a slow leak and shut down.
Cheers
I'm posting this message again as the Images seem to have gone missing from the above.
Hi! Folks. I set out recently to build a Cistern to keep the water levels up in our bird bath. The Rainbow Loris and other spirited swimmers would visit for a splash about and the bath would be almost empty in minutes.
For about $60 (at Bunning’s) I built the set up below. It took longer to write it up for another string on this forum, then it took to build and install. So I figured I’d also post it here, as it works really well, and could be of use to others.
The challenge:
• to maintain water levels in our bird bath
• to maintain an air gap between the birdbath
waterand the tank supply, to avoid cross
contamination.
(under Govt. regulation back flow into the mains supply must not occur if the mains pressure fails, so either a “back flow stop valve”or an air gap must be maintained)
• to minimise water loss if a hose fitting blows
So these are the steps I suggest you follow:
Setting the mains tap to just drip/dribble, once the cistern is filled, means that minimum water will be lost if a hose blows. The cistern refills and shuts off effectively, it just takes a while.
By fitting an electronic tap timer and setting it to run for two minutes 4 times a day, a maximum of ~ 24 Litres of water would be used per day ( ie. 4 refills of the 1 ltr cistern and the 5 ltr bath).
Importantly, for a tank supply, using a timer means the pump won’t run intermittently or falsely detect a slow leak and shut down.
Hope this is of value.
Cheers
VJ
Wow! Been waiting for this! Thanks guys. Thanks Barry.
simulationcredit
What a brilliant cistern system you have here!! I am thinking of using this now as I was wondering how to make sure the birdbath would remain topped up if I went away. Thank you so much. I love birds and frogs and like to provide habitat for both.
Happy Birding!
https://www.flickr.com/photos/138588528@N02/
Thanks Wollemi, it is our pleasure to share the idea.
Our two uunits have been operational now since mid May 2008 absolutely trouble free. One is on the mains water supply and the other is off our Davey Tank pump.
Only thing I would change for the pump supplied unit is by way of a larger diameter feed hose to the bird bath,(I used a 1/4" flexible PVC pipe, I'd go for 1/2" next time). The 1/4" pipe is a bit slow to refill which causes the Pump to turn on/off too often.
Easy to make and reliable, have fun.
Cheers VernJ
VJ
Hi, we have been using Automatic Drinking Systems for the horses for years! They work with a pivoting float arm that is adjustable, just like in the cisterne of your toilet. The same as yours. When the water level is lowered, the valve opens to refill the drinker. They work on gravity, tank water, or connect directly to mains. You can buy them in any stock feed , or horse supply shop.(or online)
M-L
This is a great idea, especially if you're planning to go away for holidays.
However, I've recently become aware of an upside to a non tech. approach to keeping bird baths full. I'm finding, after some years, that when I clean & refill the bird bath from the hose, I have a number of bird species come quite close, seemingly waiting for me to finish my job. New Holland honeyeaters, grey fantails, yellow-rumped thornbills, crested pigeons, Australian magpies, brown-headed honeyeaters & Willy wagtails are some of the species which seem to have become desensitised to my presence &, like Pavlov's dogs, conditioned to expect fresh water. This is particularly the case, I believe, on hot days in summer when the birds' need for water is greater than in cooler weather.
I read Woko's comment with interest. The cistern idea is great for ensuring a continuous supply of water particularly in hot dry weather but I think regular flushing and cleaning is also important. Who knows what birds wash off themselves. Starlings for example "muddy" the water when they bathe by pooping in it. We ourselves prefer not to bathe in someone else's bathwater and there's no reason to think that birds are not just as fastidious.