09-22-2009, 05:54 AM
To follow up on Alaskasteven's comment, UV treatment is a good idea but unfortunately, isn't really practical for some of us folks off-grid. Having it constantly on doesn't allow the inverter to "sleep" to save battery power, and turning the UV off and on shortens the bulb's life. We use chlorine (bleach) treatment instead and to be safe don't drink or cook with the water unless it is to be boiled Ð at least until we can beef up the PV system to handle the extra demand.
The county has a brochure with tips on catchment use available at http://www.HawaiiRain.org/files/Guidelin...Hawaii.pdf
Obie, you're correct when you say most of the civilized world is avoiding catchment, but there many places using it for conservation purposes, although not always for potable purposes. A few years back in Japan an 80,000-square-foot hall was built to use rainwater to fill a separate water system to flush toilets. Also, catchment is seeing significant use in many third-world areas with no other viable options.
Steven also has some very good advice on pet food bowls. Treating dogs regularly for heartworms will also help prevent infection by rat lungworm. Some people use the anti-parasite medication Ivermectin (can be bought in bulk from farm supply stores) in lieu of more traditional treatments which contain a form of it as their active ingredient.
The county has a brochure with tips on catchment use available at http://www.HawaiiRain.org/files/Guidelin...Hawaii.pdf
Obie, you're correct when you say most of the civilized world is avoiding catchment, but there many places using it for conservation purposes, although not always for potable purposes. A few years back in Japan an 80,000-square-foot hall was built to use rainwater to fill a separate water system to flush toilets. Also, catchment is seeing significant use in many third-world areas with no other viable options.
Steven also has some very good advice on pet food bowls. Treating dogs regularly for heartworms will also help prevent infection by rat lungworm. Some people use the anti-parasite medication Ivermectin (can be bought in bulk from farm supply stores) in lieu of more traditional treatments which contain a form of it as their active ingredient.