How to buy a DIY rainwater tank pump and water switch for only $450

In this video, I demonstrate the outcome of replacing our Vada V80-H Pump & Rain2main Package. Instead of the original setup, I've implemented a manual water control system using a 3-way ball valve to switch between the mains water supply and rainwater.

The Vada V80-H Pump & Rain2main Package, which is currently priced at $1,336.83, was professionally installed by a local plumbing company in September 2018, at significant expense.

Unfortunately, after just five years of use, the automatic water switching unit (Main2Rain), responsible for selecting and drawing water from either the town supply or the rainwater tank, malfunctioned. Considering that the replacement of this water switching unit alone is $916.43, and unable to verify that the pump still functions (since it's dependent on the switch), I made the decision to replace the entire system, and the existing 'Big Blue' water filter housing with a smaller unit. I opted for the Ozito 800W Constant Pressure Pump and a 3-way ball valve lever, which completely eliminates the need for an electronic water switching unit.

A notable benefit of a ball valve to operate the water switching process is that it exclusively draws water from the selected source without any initial, momentary reliance on the mains supply, as observed with our previous Vada automatic water switching unit. By setting the lever to access water from the rainwater tank, we are conserving a modest but appreciable amount of town water.

The total cost of this DIY installation was $449.05 and the parts and prices are listed below:

MAIN PARTS
Ozito 800W Constant Pressure Pump (CPPAS-800) - $209
Brass Three (3) Way L Port Ball Valve-Female BSP-20mm (3/4") - $63.69
10 Inch Water Filter Housing System & 2PCS 10" x 2.5" GAC Filtration - $39.99

CONNECTORS
Brasshards 20mm Brass Threaded Hexagon Nipple (x1) - $4.39
Brasshards 20 x 15mm M / F Brass Threaded Adaptor (x1) - $5.36
Brasshards 20 x 15mm Brass Threaded Hex Reducing Bush (x1) - $2.59
Brasshards 25 x 20mm Brass Threaded Hex Reducing Nipple (x1) - $5.24
SmarteX C 3 / 4 x 3 / 4" Push Fit Brass Copper Female Connector (x1) - $12.58
SmarteX P 20mm x 3 / 4" Push Fit Brass Pex Male Connector (x1) - $11.91
SmarteX P 20mm x 1 / 2" Push Fit Brass Pex Male Connector (x1) - $11.02
SmarteX P 20mm Push Fit Brass Pex Elbow (x4) - $38.88
SmarteX 20mm x 3 / 4" Push Pex Brass Coupling - $8.84
Pex 20mm pipe roll - left over from previous job

PVC
Holman 25mm x 1m Class 12 Pressure PVC Pip - $6.70
Holman 25mm 90° White PVC Elbow (x2) - $5.50
Holman 25mm Press PVC Coupling (x1) - $2.23
Holman 25mm x 1" PVC Valve Socket (x1) - $1.70
Protek 125ml Type P Green PVC Cement For High Pressure Pipes - $7.68

OTHER
Jack 200 x 200 x 15mm Anti Vibration Square - 2 Pack - $11.75

TOTAL = $449.05