Connecting pipes with waste materials

Connecting tubes and pipes

This is our water tank 4a. It provides several neighbors with water. If possible the neighbors help me if there is something to do.

That is the overflowing pipe of the water tank. In the last days we connected it with our water system, so that we can use the overflowing water. But how to do it?

We need to connect a pipe of approx 140mm diameter...

...with a tube of 75mm diameter.

A neighbor gave us several connectors that halfway connected the tubes.  Many such parts are stored with him. But how to connect them so that they hold and become waterproof?

At first we considered using proxy glue and silicone. But that's expensive and bad for the environment, so we didn't use it.

For my solution, you need bicycle inner tubes, wire and some knowledge how to handle with wire. I collected the inner tubes and the wire from the garbage over time, I learned the skills from friends.

I cut open the tubes, wrap them tightly around the splice several times and secure with wire.

And it works! There is only about one drop per minute, even if the pipe is full of water. Admittedly, we would have saved a lot of time if we had bought a suitable connection part.

Finally I put some plastic around the connections and fix it with wire. This protects the UV-sensitive bicycle tubes from solar radiation. The plastic comes from a former greenhouse. Thus, all parts are from the garbage - a free and environmentally friendly solution!

I plan to write more posts about sustainable crafting tricks:

• How to turn an old washing machine and an old bicycle into a bicycle washing machine with no electricity consumption
• How to transport more by bike with bike boxes
• How to organise screws, nails, garden seeds and many other odds and ends - neatly and beautifully with hanging screw jars
• How to make strong string or rope from hair, grass, fibres, etc.
• 3 tricks for using wire
• How to build a rainproof roof from palm leaves