Water woes continued...
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Water is becoming our critical issue here. The line from the shower water tank had some leaks which over the last three weeks have all but drained the green tank. There were some leaks in the line from the drinking water tank too. I’ve repaired the leaks, but since the dry season has officially started, we are resorting to earnest and fervent prayer for rain. Tui Mali has donated a new plastic 10,000litre tank which stands well over 8’ tall. It is too tall to put under the eaves of any of our roofs, so I’m thinking it needs to go up next to the green tank as extra storage from the dam or else to construct a new roof catchment to feed it. We have leveled the site for the tank and will hopefully move it into position sometime today.
There remain three or four tin roofs that either have no tank to trap their rain water, or the tank is far too small. The new piggery is currently being fitted with four 200litre drums which for a roof of that size and the demand of the pigs will not be nearly sufficient. I have recommended that we build a tank mold that can be used multiple times to construct a 5000litre ferrocement water tank standing 4’ high under every roof. Now in the dry season would be an excellent time to do this in preparation for wet weather in November.
Comments
hey chuck,
i seriously recommend against using the new tank for water from the dam…it’s much more important to have clean drinking water in the dry season, as you know, and that water from the dam is not suitable for that purpose. the hand-pump which is back behind the kitchen could be used to move more water up the hill when it rains, but again the cachement has started too late with the onset of the dry season.
placing tanks beneath every roof is a fine idea, but it becomes critical to set that up in a way such that the rain barrels don’t become breeding grounds for mozzies and that the water can be used effectively. to date, that hasn’t really worked.
but keep us posted, and good luck!
thanks Chuck – its disappointing we’re in this situation again despite all the efforts with the dam this year. In the long-term I’m sure the island is better set up for water storage, but agree with Kaz priority is clean drinking water. Talk soon
Hello. I’m new here, so I might be overlooking a readily available resource, but could photos of your drinking water system be posted? I would like to be able to work on the issue remotely if possible. I work at a naturopathic university and am surrounded by knowledgeable people who tackle sustainability issues regularly.
I have read somewhere online that placing two minnows or an eel in a waterbutt stops mozzies from reproducing in the standing water. Does it mean the water has to be boiled to be drunk? Should there be a team of minnows or two or three baby eels on standby? It would be lonely and boring to live in a butt all your life! The minnow /eel feed on mosquito larvae that might appear. They put an eel in wells in Malta which can survive on very little. Cruel? or Practical idea? Is there a way to have the water constantly moving with windpower?
Aside: Has TW investigated Solar Cooking? Using the sun and reflected surfaces to cook – stew, slowly?
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