Hey everyone! I recently bought a property that has a river running through it, and I'm excited to create a water feature. I'm considering a waterwheel connected to an Archimedes screw to lift water about 6 feet into my yard. This water will eventually drain back into the river after irrigating my vegetable garden. I've checked with the county, and as my usage is minimal, they gave me the green light. I'm looking for either a place to buy a waterwheel or plans to build one myself, along with any tips on calculating its size for the power I need. If anyone's had experience with this or wants to share their thoughts—positive or negative—I'd appreciate it!
5 Answers
Your design will need to consider seasonal water level changes. A simple DIY approach could involve a shaft connected to a float with paddles on the shaft's top to lift water through pipes. Make sure the structure can pivot with the water levels and can be removed during floods!
Make sure you have documentation from the county or whoever regulates the water in your area. Water law can be tricky, especially in places like the Southwest US. I found some helpful videos from a guy named Henry Walker who talks about building his own water wheel. Even if you end up buying one, understanding the design and placement will be useful. Here's his YouTube channel: https://youtube.com/@henrywalker7638?si=2PFJhat08Omi7Yts.
You might need a custom solution since every situation is different. Look into how irrigation canals are constructed in Asia; they're often filled with simple water wheels that a local welding shop could whip up. Alternatively, you could explore getting one imported from India or China. A hydraulic ram could also be an option, depending on your setup.
Try searching for "water wheels for small streams" online. You might even find some options on Amazon that aren't too pricey. It sounds like a fun project! Good luck!
Check out Kris Harbour Natural Building on YouTube; he builds a lot of these and shares plans and material sources in his videos.
They showed me the law, and as long as I'm not putting it in a holding tank or filling a lake, I'm all good. Seems like just feeding it back into the river keeps me safe. But I agree, getting everything in writing is a smart move!