The water tank

After spending most (me) or at least many (Stu) years in a country frequently beset by drought, it is fair to say that we are obsessed with water. Our water supply comes from our own well, which is about 100 metres from the house. The water in the well can be reached at a depth of about 7 metres. We installed a heavy duty submersible pump four years ago which has served us well. However, we constantly conserve water anyway. We wash our dishes in a small dish in the kitchen sink. We keep non-soapy water from this dish and water the garden with it. We keep a bucket in the shower to catch the cold water coming through the pipes until it gets warm. We use this water to flush the toilet and water the garden. However, these efforts are insufficient when the hot weather comes. Enter the underground water tank. This tank is situated just outside our side door and has a capacity of 7,000 litres. It is filled by stormwater from one side of our house roof. In the mid term, we plan to direct the other side of the roof and the fienile roof into it. In the short term, we are working towards making it useable. The tank has not been utilised for many years. It had a lid that didn't seal which made it a potential breeding ground for insects. It also had a layer of dirt and gravel at the bottom and various scum including dead bodies (ghiri?) floating on the top. Stu has recently sealed the lid and drained its putrid contents. We have purchased a rain gauge and are monitoring the water level and smell in the tank as it refills. So far, it seems that Stu's "cleansing by dilution" theory is working!

 

 

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