that year has rained plentiful exceptionally, but the
rainwater is valuable in my landscape in the most years,
therefore I built a new rainwater gathering point beside my observatory:
in Australia the water is short as well, how do you deal with it?
that year has rained plentiful exceptionally, but the
rainwater is valuable in my landscape in the most years,
therefore I built a new rainwater gathering point beside my observatory:
in Australia the water is short as well, how do you deal with it?
Hi,
Best wishes from Sydney. Yes, rainfall patterns have given us a severe drought in many areas of Oz just lately, and outside cities there is the additional difficulty of political arguments over water rights between States and the Federal Govt.
There are currently water consumption restrictions here in Sydney, and our main reservoir, the Warragamba dam, fell to about 33% of capacity. It is better now, but water restrictions remain, no hosing of cars or any hard surface, and garden watering 2 days per week.
Several country towns ran out of water completely, and had to have it brought in by tanker. Drought is not new to Oz though, when we declared ourselves a unified nation in 1901 there was immediately a big drought, called the Federation drought.
We do not recycle our water to any great extent here, and there is currently a big controversy over the building of a desalination plant in Sydney, which will be powered mainly by coal-fired power (we have no nuclear power stations but do have a lot of hydro power generation).
There is an increasing acceptance that rainwater tanks, which are universal in rural areas, should be installed in urban areas too. I am thinking of it for uses where piped water is restricted. It is forecast that the cost of piped water will rise by 15% soon, but it is very cheap in real terms presently.
All our water here is delivered to us (meaning my place) by rain. I have a
20000 litre tank for houshold use plus 2 x 1500 lt tanks along with 7x 200lt
drums for garden. We pretty much live on self imposed water restrictions. I
take our washing into town to do this saves an amazing amount of water.
I've never had to buy in water but it has come close on many occasions. We
live in the bush and aren't connected to any water mains.
The one thing I like is rain water tastes a heap better than city water which
nearly makes me want to puke when I have to drink it. Sydney water is the
worst!!! it is discusting. Sometime I wonder if they really know what they are
drinking. It's not usually or easily seen in a cup full but try filling a bucket and
see what colour it turns out.
Our house has rain water only.
When the tanks get half empty, we limit ourselves to about 5 litres for each bath. Which is plenty really when you put it in a camping shower.
Water saved from the shower can be reused to flush the toilet.
I don't use any water on the garden.
Only the hardiest and most drought resistant plants have survived. Aloe Vera, Lavender, Geraniums, Climbing Rose, Crucifix Orchids along with a variety of succulents and cactus. Surprisingly the fruit trees are hanging in there. The Cumquat trees are a mass of flowers and fruit as well as the macadamia nut trees.
I've just taken delivery of a 1600L water tank here and the wood to make a stand. Have to get busy and get it connected before the winter ends. We haven't had much in the way of restrictions here so far, but it was getting dicey at the end of summer. Most of our water comes from the Murrumbidgee and it was looking pretty low on Sunday when I went for an hours fishing.
I recently retired after 24 years in the water industry in WA and there's a lot to be said for the desal route as a backup to ground sources, although it does have the drawback of being energy hungry. My last 10 years were in wastewater treatment and there is a certain amount of recycling done in that area for watering of Tree Lots, Parks and Sports grounds. A new plant was just opened in Perth to treat wastewater for reuse by industry at Kwinnana, The treatment to drinking water standard is still pretty controversial here, although it is done in some countries overseas.
I only have tanks and a small dam to water the gardens.
We have been pretty lucky with rain and the tanks (total 100 000 litres) are pretty full. It still makes you very conscious of every drop that comes out of the taps.
Hi folks, if I read about your enormous water tanks,
than I see my rainwater collector as a toy ,
only 3000 litres alltogether ,
not for the household, only for watering the plants in times without rain.
Well, you have larger problems in that respect....
hi Ispom, your effort is still commendable. If everyone in Germany collected 3000 litres for their garden or for anything think of the impact it would make. Every little effort everywhere is a help.
Think globally and act locally is one of my life mottos.
Ric, the cause for my acticity is not global thinking, but economy.
Drink water from the water pipe will more and more expensive.
People consume less water – and the costs climb higher.
on the other hand water works gives water into canalization, because there must be a minimal flow rate – a vicious circle.
water works take the water from rivers and lakes or from ground water, there is enough, if it is not used, it flows into the sea.
If I save drink water, it will not benefit the people who have too little thereof…..
Hi there Ispom,
You have done a good thing.
I like many others here use tanks and dams... the rain fall where I am is such that one does not have to be conservative with water use.
I have been drinking only tank water for over 20 years and feel it is beneficial to ones general health.
Its raining here now and at home I expect the tanks are overflowing.
And to you and yours Ispom
Job completed and guess what, no rain forecast for 3-4 days. At least I managed an hour of viewing from the backyard tonight, first clear one for a week.
I also found a new use for dead Hard Disk drives
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