In article , nick hull wrote:
In article ,
F. George McDuffee wrote:

On Tue, 29 Jul 2008 19:42:55 -0500, "Karl Townsend"
wrote:

You might like this solution.

Get a 55 gallon drum and put it at your downspout with spout going nearly to

bottom of drum. Put the line to your cistern though the drum at say 2/3 the
height and "T" into the downspout. Put a drain valve on the drum at the
bottom.

Now, when it rains the first 35 gallons fills the drum, the dirty water.
Then the water starts flowing to the cistern automatically. No need to go
out in the rain and/or forget at just the right time. just drain the drum
the next day.

My dad had this on his house for many years.

Karl

================
Put a small [c. 1/8] hole in the bottom of the bbl. It will
drain automatically and the leak rate is small enough not to
divert much water.

Good idea, but I don't have enough vertical room to fit a 55 gal drum, I
have less than 6" to work with ;(

Your gutters are less than 6" above the ground???