A bit about rainwater tanks

[Zemanova]

In answer to Nattydreads question about swimming pools, as Mother Bear has stated we have an outside pool which we have used every day since late October.

In is a 50,000 litre pool which is controlled by a pump and a sand filter and really isn't that expensive to run. We paid $185 in October to bring the pool into summer use. This was primarily water conditioner (baking powder !!), liquid and tablet cholorine.

The best buy we made was a floatron. This is a solar panelled unit that floats on the suface of the pool emitting a small electric charge into the water. This does the same job as the chemicals, but with none of the chemical problems of stinging eyes etc. The floatron also means that we only have to put a fraction of the chemicals in the water that would be needed if we didn't have a floatron. Floatrons cost around $700, so there is an initial high cost. However on the plus side, if we didn't have a floatron, chemicals costs for a 6 month summer season would be $150+, so the floatron will soon pay for itself.

We have the option to pump the pool water up onto the roof of the sleep-out through small bore rubber piping. This is heated by the sun and can raise the pool temperature some 5 degrees. Since we came here in July we have not had to do that and the pool was been between 75 and 86 degrees all summer. We do however have a cover for the pool, which we put on every night.

We are on rain water so water conservation is important to us. We do get evaporation from the pool, but to date we haven't had to top it up, with heavy rain coming just in time.

On the subject of rain water, we have two concrete tanks. The larger one supplies the house, while the smaller one supplies the toilets and the garden hose points. We haven't yet got any filters on our water, but we do not drink it. The water is very soft and looks very clear, but we prefer bottled water for drinking. Pam does however use the water for cooking, but then it is boiled. The second tank collects it's water from the single garage and overflow from the large tank.

That said, a great deal of our water ( double garage and one side of the house) goes straight into the ground. The other issue with rain water is that when the tanks are full, it becomes difficult for the downpipes to cope with the rain if it is heavy. When this occurs the rainwater just flows over the top of the guttering like a waterfall.

FInally on the subject of rain water, we have had leaf-guard fitted to all our guttering. This is a heavy duty mesh fixed to the roof and the outside of the guttering and this prevents leaves and birds from getting into the gutters. We had the entire house done for $2,200 and this included cleaning all the gutters first and flushing out the downpipes.

Pam & Dave

[MotherBear]

Wow! Great post, Zemanova. This thread is quite an important one for anyone considering a lifestyle property, as a great percentage of them only have a rainwater system rather than mains. From our rear terrace, looking around me, I could see a lot of rainwater tanks on neighbouring properties, so we?re all in the same boat. I?m sure the swimming pool information will be very useful for those aspiring to install one or even just take over an established one. Thanks for taking the time to post this for us.

Many thanks also for your hospitality when we visited your lovely home. Such a lot of hard work has gone into it and we hope you will have many long years of enjoyment from it. It was great to meet you both.

[nattydread]

thanks for that Dave,

Some good info there..
Glad to hear that the swimming pool isn't a drain on resources..

I quite fancy the idea of a pool..

[MotherBear]

What they need is a good rainwater system! [smilie=Stupid_grin.gif]

Palmerston North water leaving bad taste
31 January 2006
By HELEN HARVEY

All over the city, people are turning on the tap - and being turned off. Palmerston North's water looks okay but smells and tastes disgusting, a number of callers told the Manawatu Standard yesterday.

One woman said it was like drinking stagnant pond water. And to muddy the waters further, yesterday's rates bill included a notice from the Ministry of Health advising people to flush their tap water pipes before using the water.

Some plumbing fittings have the potential to allow minute traces of metals to accumulate in water and although the health risk is small, the ministry recommends people flush a mugful of water from their drinking taps each morning before use, the notice said. But the notice and the city's water woes are unrelated, Palmerston North City Council water and waste services manager Chris Pepper said.

Algae could be responsible for the bad taste, he said. The council is checking the water for algae content and the test results are due out at lunchtime today. But the water is fine - there are no health risks, Mr Pepper said. If algae is present in the water, there are treatments available to get rid of it.

Another factor contributing to the bad taste is the hot and cold weather the city has been experiencing, he said. The water in the reservoir behind the dam has been turned over and residue from the bottom has affected the taste. The council doesn't know how long it will take to resolve the problems. Under new drinking water standards all councils have a year to do tests to prove old water filters with a high lead content are not leaking, he said.

[MotherBear]

I rest my case! At least when you're in charge of your own water system, you have more control of what's going on with the water.

Warning issued over Hamilton water
30 January 2006

Thousands of Hamilton residents have been told to boil their drinking water after "indicator organisms" were found. The find was made during routine maintenance. Council water and waste services manager Leroy Leach said the problem ? at the Dinsdale reservoir - had been isolated from the water supply for further testing.

Testing on Friday found indicator organisms and this was confirmed on Saturday, Mr Leach said. Of 13 samples taken, just one had tested positive. But "as a precaution to ensure residents' health, we are immediately advising Dinsdale residents by letter drop within the possible affected area (approximately 1500 homes) to boil water for consumption until further notice".

Mr Leach said the presence of indicator organisms "could potentially indicate a risk of stomach upsets. We've advised the Waikato District Health Board's medical officer of health, who is monitoring the situation," he said.

The 4.5 million litre Dinsdale reservoir was drained and would be inspected and cleaned while the water system was being flushed. Staff were looking for possible contamination sources, which could be something as small as a mouse getting into the supply.

"We created the brochures and mobilised people to distribute them. We've elevated chlorine levels, so there may be some taste issues," Mr Leach said. It would take three days of clear tests before the reservoir could go back on line, and Mr Leach said yesterday's testing was clear. Water for drinking, food preparation and teeth cleaning should be boiled for at least one minute. The affected zone is mainly in the western Dinsdale area, including Dinsdale and Whatawhata Rds, parts of Tuhikaramea Rd, Ellicott Rd, Newcastle Rd and Grandview Heights.

[jamesthecarman]

Wow, this topic is making me nauseous just reading about it [smiley=Sick.gif]

I would hate to live where we have to filter stagnant water, but that's b/c of my sensitive stomach.

Growing up with sulfur water from an underground source MAY have something to do with it. Let's just say when I went to Rotorua it reminded me of home in rural Orlando (FL, USA). ? :D

Christchurchers swear their water is the purest in the world from the tap. It didn't taste bad at all.

Auckland - different areas have "acceptable" tasting tap water, some don't. Having a filter at your sink is always nice.

[MotherBear]

Wow, this topic is making me nauseous just reading about it

Forewarned is forearmed, as I always say. [smilie=Prankster.gif]

[jamesthecarman]

Forewarned is forearmed, as I always say. [smilie=Prankster.gif]

I didn't see a warning.

I should sue you for negligence and pain & suffering!!!

8-)

You'd hate to live somewhere where you have to filter stagnant water?

Thinking about it, I think i'd prefer a water tank that gets cleaned regularly and you can keep control of, than a reservoir that gets pumped full of treated sewerage, plus who knows what else that runs in from the surrounding land! And who knows what creeps into the water from the pipelines, that could be cracked etc. and never get cleaned!

[jamesthecarman]

Taffy, was that response to me?

Because if it was I'll sue you for speculating!!! I'll sue your whole family, and your mum's cats!!!

8-)

Just kidding of course ;D