@BioHAZarD its normally a bit dryer in the northern suburbs and its almost tropical
Level 6 Water Restrictions - Cape Town
- Thread starter Hooked
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BioHAZarD
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Im all for 4-seasons. a brilliant invention, make the most of it and live to tell the tale
Sitrep:
Last nights rainfall added about 270L to my rainwater collection tank. Not what was expected according to forecasts but 270L more than I had before so reason to be thankful.
Regards
Last nights rainfall added about 270L to my rainwater collection tank. Not what was expected according to forecasts but 270L more than I had before so reason to be thankful.
Regards
@Room Fogger @Hooked and everybody else...I think that stolen water has already made it to market.we got bottled water and I heard my son make a comment that it taste worst than tap water,then I went to investigate...you get spring water then you get purified water then you get purified and re-mineralized water,mineral water and de-mineralized water...shut its different names that sprung up during the water shortage.and my conclusion to all this is they have been selling us treated water like we get from our taps as spring water
and that's apart from the brands that we already knew
@Resistance Haven't a clue lol - it was already here when I bought the house. I'll take a pic tomorrow and post it in this thread and tag you.
@Resistance That's bad news if it's true. But surely a brand name e.g. Nestle, Aquelle, Spar, wouldn't try something like that?
As I remember it, about 5000 liters @Resistance.
@Hooked, @Raindance and @Andre... I'm thinking of getting a few tanks for a few different reasons.
1 as a mini reservoir from the mains in case there is a burst pipe wich happens rather often... twice a week or so and another 2 or 3 to collect runoff water from the roof and from my neighbour who is higher than me but when it rains there is a waterfall coming from the hole in the wall. The runoff I will use to water the garden via my sprinkler system with a water pump to up the pressure.
Any thoughts or suggestions on the above ideas?
I'm in jhb by the way so it's not critical, just want to be water wise and more self sufficient.
I have plans to go full solar with battery backup but water seems to be the more important resource at this stage...
1 as a mini reservoir from the mains in case there is a burst pipe wich happens rather often... twice a week or so and another 2 or 3 to collect runoff water from the roof and from my neighbour who is higher than me but when it rains there is a waterfall coming from the hole in the wall. The runoff I will use to water the garden via my sprinkler system with a water pump to up the pressure.
Any thoughts or suggestions on the above ideas?
I'm in jhb by the way so it's not critical, just want to be water wise and more self sufficient.
I have plans to go full solar with battery backup but water seems to be the more important resource at this stage...
@Christos It's a good idea to get a water tank because you never know when you might need it - and then it will be too late. My brother here in CT has just ordered a second one and there's a month's delay in production because of the "panic" (as some call it) buying. He's got a good system going at his house - I'll get further info from him.
I used to use my tank to water the garden when I still had some grass, but the pump which someone installed for me only lasted a few months. One has to use a pump to get the water to flow through the hosepipe. I recently had a new pump installed which is double the power of the old one. It's called a PCU Pump Control System.
I'm sure the other peeps will be able to give you better advice than I can and I'll get back to you about what my brother has.
Rain water in the tank on the dog kennel, washing machine and buckets from elsewhere in the blue drum both going to the well point pump. One outlet to the front sprinklers and one to the hose pipe to fill buckets for re-use inside. Works a charm.
Regards
@Christos , a 750 L (one to two days with careful use) or a 2,500 L with an in line pressure sensor pump will give you plenty in case of a water interruption, and 2 x 10,000 L tanks is quite a lot of spare water for other use. With the runoff you may be able to get 3, but that's a lot, I have 4 borehole fed on site and that services a 6 building office park for garden water and backup. But rather too much than too little. I am hoping to be able to do the same at sometime during the year, funds permitting.
Going full solar is a costly exercise, but can be done in stages with other options to supplement, but the payoff in savings is immense. Just a solar geyser can cut 30 to 40% go your electricity consumption. Capital outlay is quite big based on what you choose, but you will break even sooner than you think. I think we are going to see a shift by all in SA with regards to self sufficiency at our homes going forward.
Sounds like a great idea. Go as big as you can for irrigation - one uses much more water than you think. I have 2 x 10 000 liter rain harvesting tanks connected to a pump and my little irrigation system for the garden. Not even a month's use in Summer. Drip irrigation would have been more effective.
All in all we have rainwater harvesting tanks to the tune of 50 000 liters, but could collect at least 3 to 4 times that. More than enough for personal and household use should day zero come about.
How is it going with the distillation? Best tasting water ever.
To keep my small front garden tip top shape I would need about 2000L per week. Could possibly reduce that to 1500L and still have a decent lawn.
Funny thing is, the part under irrigation is suffering while the back garden and sidewalk, to which I give no attention at all is performing better than the bit I am treating with kid gloves.
Regards
Funny thing is, the part under irrigation is suffering while the back garden and sidewalk, to which I give no attention at all is performing better than the bit I am treating with kid gloves.
Regards
I had my washing machine water redirected to the garden last year, but it was a dismal failure. It watered just the patch of grass where it exited the pipe, but the rest of the garden did not absorb any water from the soil, in spite of the assurance that it would. Then when I decided to pave everything, I allowed them to pave over the extended pipes. Stupid of me, but at that time we were on Level 2 or 3 Water Restrictions only and I didn't foresee the current circumstances. I must speaker to my builder/renovator and see if anything can be done.
Since I didn't have much water in the tank, the only thing that I've been using it for was for house-cleaning. The cleaning service has been threatened with a fate worse than death if they dare to turn on a tap. However, now that there's more water in the tank, I can use it for drinking water. I bought 2 distillers for this purpose.
@Hooked you understood me wrong.I meant apart from them...the new brand in stores.
they have been on in the game long enough to know they shouldn't cheat there brand.
check the new bottles...its says mineral and still and some have remineralized and some demineralised.I'm talking about the brands that appeared due to water shortage here this past few months and especially since December and January
they have been on in the game long enough to know they shouldn't cheat there brand.
check the new bottles...its says mineral and still and some have remineralized and some demineralised.I'm talking about the brands that appeared due to water shortage here this past few months and especially since December and January
We have a surplus in pressure because we are the lowest point in the valley I think.
I've had 3 overhead pipes burst in my ceiling over the years and when we tested the main supply we got a lot more pressure that what was supposed to be supplied.
We also have poor maintenance with 4 regular spots that get repaired and burst regularly in a neighbourhood of about 300 houses.
Let's not get to the electricity supply wich is also choppy here!
Thanks for the feedback though guys!
I have already gone solar geyser a few years ago and have installed a wood burning fireplace for winter.
Now to get the rest of the appliances to operate for free
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