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Annual catchment maintenance costs
#11
quote:
Originally posted by Andrew

We had our pump switch go ****y and I called the good people at Waterworks in Hilo who offered the following free advice. Take the switch cover off and apply a little WD40 to the switch mechanism. I did as they suggested and it fixed the problem we were having like a charm.


Unfortunately in my case the plate part of the switch mechanism broke off. I was able to temp fix it with duct tape- it got the pump running but didn't always tell it when to stop running. I was able to limp through the night charging the pressure tank manually until they opened up at 0900 to get a replacement switch.
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#12
quote:
Originally posted by MarkP

Do any of you use a "first flush" system that diverts the first few gallons of water coming off the roof?


I think its a good idea, especially if there is any possibility of water pooling in your gutters OR if you live someplace like Ka'u where the rain is infrequent. If I was building a system from scratch I would incorporate a first flush into the design but since it rains everyday and I don't have water pooling I'm not planning to install one in my existing system. It seems like several times a week I have water gushing from the overflow pipe on the catchment tank and its getting "flushed" all the time. I have seen youtube videos how to install a cheap first flush using pipe and a gatorade bottle. We have two filters before the UV sterilization unit, and a third filter in the refrigerator- I consider my water cleaner and more pure than county water. It certainly tastes better.
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#13
I think that a 'first flush' component is a good addition too. You do need to think it through better than my builder did though since it isn't the easiest thing to do and it will cost you some water. Since most tanks are sitting out in the yard the plumbing runs to it on the ground and then up and over the sides and some tanks have six foot high sides. If all of this is done on flat ground then the pipes are always full of water up to that six foot elevation and could amount to many gallons of water. So the next rain just moves that water on rather than flushing out. You either need to start with empty pipes or flush right at the gutter outlet, or at least before the standing water level. I put in a T and thirty feet of pipe at the base of tha tank and put a valve on the end of that. The valve is usually just open a crack and lets the plumbing drain out after a rain but lets the flush water pass the tank inlet. I lose a lot of water each time because I have to refill all of the pipes before it goes into the tank but I have plenty of roof too. I can also leave it fully open when I, as some do, add a little bleach to the tank. With a tank full of treated water you don't really want excess rain running through the tank and out the overflow. (I think that Trish, in her catchment book, would agree that no standing water in your drain pipes is the preferred method.)

Jay
Jay
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#14
Just a reminder for anyone on catchment, check the quality of the cover, and the liner is food grade quality.
( friend in Ocean View had bought a replacement which was made in China, had problems) They contacted Trisha who was very helpful and informative, especially the advice about adding the baking soda for acid rain!
http://www.ctahr.hawaii.edu/hawaiirain/vog.html

Vocano Vent monthly newsletter had a local survey on water catchment tanks
http://volcanovent.com/water.html

http://www.scribd.com/doc/34473728/A-Gui...he-Pacific


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#15
Well...... variables are... What kinda quality tank do you want to have? Longer lasting better tank (thicker metal) more $$$. That also goes with Liner, Pump and pressure tank.

I've put in the best I could afford when I did it I did it myself and the cost was around 5K bucks just for the tank, pump, pressure tank, cover and liner. That included the work to level out a 30' round pad and sand.

So... After that the up keep from (how long a pump/pressure tank will last) is anyones guess but a tank should last a good 10-20 years depending on the upkeep and quality of it.

Next come Filters and chemicals replacement cost. Usually a monthly fee.

Next come power cost to run the pump and UV filters.

Next ... comes what if you have to replace the liner? Or you get a hole in it or it just doesn't rain enough you gotta factor in water hauling... Or worse you gotta drain it because you found a dead rat in the bottom. Ick!

So... I'd say after you factor it all in to get quality water from your catchment you'd be looking @ 30-40 bucks a month depending on how much quality and luck you had for equipment lasting a long long time to having everything work.

If I had to do it all over again I would have gone with the green plastic tanks. Can just put them practically anywhere and yes they are expensive but less maintenance of water and less upkeep of the tank itself.

Bottom line would be if you think your coming to Hawaii to get away from your water bill ... Think again. Unless you somehow just wanted a tank to fill up the toilet and take a low pressure shower and you didn't care if a few bugs and leaves were in with it ... You could do a gravity fed system where you elevate your tank (nothing more than a few 50 gallon drums) you could get by next to nothing.

Now that I'm on private water it's worth it just not to have to drive to the creepy water holes just to get my 5 gallon jugs filled and carry them in. Granted it doesn't bother me now but I assume if I live here for a long time and I were in my 80's I doubt I'd be lifting up too many 5 gallon bottles maybe have to get the 2.5 gallon ones. Smile

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#16
I've spent less $ on my catchment maintenance in 6 months than a one month water bill was in Alaska. AND I don't have to worry about the pipes freezing.
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#17
I guess that depends on how expensive your water bill is. Here in Hi-beaches it's around 35-40 bucks a month. But wait till your pump burns out or you need a new pressure tank. I suppose you probably never factored in the power to run the pump?

I never factored in to having a running vehicle and gas to go get drinking water. But I suppose you could just man up and drink it (the water comming from your catchment)! Take your chances! Big Grin
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#18
I have pondered how much difference the first flush system makes, given that rain is so frequent and evenly distributed in Puna. Granted there are times when the rain is almost continuous but most of the time it is intermittent. The question not yet addressed is how and when the contaminants are applied. Do the birds perch on your roof more when it is not raining? If so then a first flush is a good idea since the contaminant cycle dovetails with the rain cycle even if there are several cycles per day. Other contaminants such as leaves are wind driven. During storms wind and rain go together but what about our normal daily rain?
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#19
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#20
So it looks like the top end is about $600 a year.
Puna: Our roosters crow first
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