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+--- Thread: post-tephra catchment care (/showthread.php?tid=23815)
post-tephra catchment care - kalianna - 01-25-2026
The intake valves are disconnected. Now what? I see four possible courses of action:
1) I can use the shop vac to clean out the gutters and the catchment cover or
2) I can blow out the debris (wearing a mask) or
3) I can hose down the cover and gutters or
4) I can just wait for rain to clean things up.
I'd obviously prefer #4 but there is no rain on the horizon so I'd prefer #3 except I'm hesitant to use too much water because of the weather forecast. Thoughts from others about this and/or car care?
RE: post-tephra catchment care - HereOnThePrimalEdge - 01-25-2026
2) I can blow out the debris (wearing a mask) or
A neighbor used a leaf blower to clear his driveway of Pele’s Hair last year. No mask, no goggles. I was a good 200-300 feet away and had to leave the area when I felt the sting in my nose and eyes.
Wear protection if you blow debris. Change your clothes before you enter your home. Particles are lightweight and travel great distances, are sharp and stick to things.
RE: post-tephra catchment care - ironyak - 01-25-2026
Seems like you've considered the options, but it's the entire roof surface that needs to be washed down into the gutters and then the gutters cleared. Ran a quick test on a roof section and the ash really settles into the gutters and needed to be forced along with a spray attachment. Given the lack of rain in the 7 day+ forecast, going to instead use the water to just wash down the essentials like cars, solar panels, patio stuff, etc and let the rain do the work of clearing the roof and gutters on its own schedule. Island time for island problems!
RE: post-tephra catchment care - MyManao - 01-25-2026
I think number 4 is the ticket. Of course you can be proactive in places where you can reach and the stuff has already accumulated. But the ash and such isn't already in your gutters as much as all over the roof. So any effort focused on the gutters already needs to wait until the rain gets it to them. So it's all gotta get flush through. It's a longer process than one would hope. And will gather and clump together, cling to the heads of the screws on the roof, gather in the corners of the gutters, rather than just all wash away.
I think, and found, rather than disconnecting the pipe running into the tank, putting some kind of filtration in the pipe so as to gather it before the water carries it into the tank can help. Similar to how one filters leaves. I've used those plastic scrub pads in the past. But also, keep in mind, the stuff is heavier than water and as such accumulates on the bottom of the water tank and, because water is drawn from higher than the bottom of the tank, it's filtered out of your system and remains there.
RE: post-tephra catchment care - randomq - 01-25-2026
Was just coming here to suggest disconnecting catchment and cleaning solar panels; glad to see everyone is on it! :-)
Sad to hear no rain coming... What does everyone do for yards with pets?
RE: post-tephra catchment care - Durian Fiend - 01-25-2026
How about sweeping off the part of your roof that collects catchment water? Probably a good idea to wear a mask when doing this.
The small, sand like stuff I see doesn't really seem like a problem since it's basically identical to what is blown around in the air on a regular basis. The Pele's hair, otoh, wouldn't be something I'd want to ingest.
RE: post-tephra catchment care - ironyak - 01-25-2026
The Hawai'i Department of Health had some recommendations from December 2025 worth taking into consideration when dealing with such cleanup.
https://health.hawaii.gov/news/newsroom/doh-urges-caution-with-elevated-volcanic-gas-emissions/
...
Guidance for short-term cleanup activities
If you reside in an area that has received ash, Pele’s hair, or tears from an eruptive event, the DOH recommends using a well-fitting N95 (or equivalent) mask to help protect against volcanic ash during cleanup, as well as the use of heavy-duty gloves, long clothing (e.g., long sleeves and pants), shoes and eye protection. Masks are designed to filter particles and do not provide protection against toxic gases such as SO2. Avoid sweeping, blowers, or other mechanical devices that may stir ash back into the air.
...
RE: post-tephra catchment care - Durian Fiend - 01-25-2026
(01-25-2026, 10:08 PM)ironyak Wrote: The Hawai'i Department of Health had some recommendations from December 2025 worth taking into consideration when dealing with such cleanup.
https://health.hawaii.gov/news/newsroom/doh-urges-caution-with-elevated-volcanic-gas-emissions/
...
Guidance for short-term cleanup activities
If you reside in an area that has received ash, Pele’s hair, or tears from an eruptive event, the DOH recommends using a well-fitting N95 (or equivalent) mask to help protect against volcanic ash during cleanup, as well as the use of heavy-duty gloves, long clothing (e.g., long sleeves and pants), shoes and eye protection. Masks are designed to filter particles and do not provide protection against toxic gases such as SO2. Avoid sweeping, blowers, or other mechanical devices that may stir ash back into the air.
...
So I guess hosing is the answer. Probably low pressure would be best.
RE: post-tephra catchment care - MyManao - 01-25-2026
(01-25-2026, 10:54 PM)Durian Fiend Wrote: So I guess hosing is the answer. Probably low pressure would be best.
Yeah, but as kalianna pointed out, when on a H2O budget, and with little rain in sight, that can put one in a bind as well.
Another thing about water is of all the ways to go it stands the best chance of not scratching the roof as well.
For me, the real humbug is I love walking around barefoot.
RE: post-tephra catchment care - kalianna - 01-25-2026
Mahalo for all the feedback. As another avid barefoot walker I had to at least hose down our walkways and replace water for animals. Catchment is still almost full. Other than that I'll let nature take its course and just hope I remember to plug the catchments back in when/if we get rain someday.