Rain Water On Tap

Yesterday we finalised connection of rain water (cold only at this point) into the pipes in the cottage on Ochre Arch. The set-up for rain water supply was described in broad terms in the blog article we posted on 28^th May 2010 titled “Planning Our House Water Supply”. http://ochrearchives.blogspot.com/2010/05/planning-our-house-water-supply.html. We ended up using 63 mm outside diameter polythene pipe in the ground, meaning that there is virtually zero friction loss. The pump is a Grundfos model CH 2 60. After correct priming the flow rate to the top (balance) tank was 22 litres per minute and the pressure was 450 kPa. Both of these figures were / are spot-on with what we were hoping for.

In this photograph you can see the actual connection from the poly pipe into the copper cold water pipe at the rear of the cottage. The internal diameter of the flexible connecting hose is very small at about 4 mm but the pressure generated from the balance tank located 45 metres in elevation above the house ensures adequate volume.

It is worth recording what having the water connection means in practical terms. In the accompanying photograph are the items we can now retire. What we did routinely was:
• Use the 2 X 10 litre containers to carry drinking water from the concrete tank at the shearing shed to the house. The distance is about 75 metres and on average we used 20 litres a day for drinking and hand washing
• From these containers we’d fill on a needs basis the blue 5 litre plastic drink bottle (kept on the bench in the kitchen), the green with white spots jug (kept on the wash-basin in the bathroom) and direct-fill other water bottles, hot water kettles and jugs, and drinking glasses
• Use plastic buckets and 20 litre containers to source washing water for the washing machine from the galvanised iron tank at the house

Right at this minute Jan has a load of washing underway via the washing machine. Not only does the new set-up save a lot of physical energy but it also avoids water inadvertently spilling on the bathroom floor and requiring subsequent clean-up.