Rain water storage

Rain water storage is one of the new-imperatives; the cost, reliability and quality all demand we harvest the manna from the heavens. Then we have to figure out how to stockpile it; in tanks, reservoirs and even a converted swimming pool^[3].

Rarely does a day go by when we don’t read in the press or hear on the news that a team is being sent to fix some serious water problem; that we live in a bone-dry country and we must all learn to use less.

Instead if we could just learn to make a plan; we have an ample supply falling from the sky for all our needs in most parts of the world. The underground rainwater reservoir is the matchmaker between the heavens, the home and the garden.

No rain water storage means going without long showers at the end of hectic days; no luxurious, relaxing baths either and precious few vegetables from the garden during the dry seasons.

An underground reservoir is the cheapest option

Add to that the woes about ageing infrastructure, water leaks and raw-sewage running into our dams; you’d think we have an unsolvable dilemma.

Our village has an average rainfall of about 1000mm. The chances are if you are reading this column that you have 200 square metres of roof or more.

That means at least 200 kilolitres of water lands on your roof every year; more than enough for the needs of your home and garden. All you have to do is to find a way to collect and store it. It’s not rocket-science. Is it only farmers who can make a plan?

Have we not heard about lateral-thinking?

This week the Witness published a lengthy report about water security. There was mention of a seven billion rand annual loss due to poor governance, wastage and leakages; and inefficient use and storage. Add to that pollution from mines, farm runoff and burst sewerage-pipes and it does indeed seem like an insurmountable problem; it need not be so.

Ask any elderly person living in the country and he will tell you that his total needs when he was a child was probably supplied by rain collected in corrugated-iron tanks. They never filtered or chlorinated the water.

If he swallowed a fly it never killed him; nor would a few mosquito-larvae.

Today it’s a lot simpler with easy access to underground pipes, fibreglass-tanks and inexpensive filters; and a pump, of course. R10,000 would do it using the cheapest options.

Fibreglass is the first choice in water tanks.

There are three options in tanks. Those made of plastic, fibreglass or steel, increasing in price; and a reservoir, the cheapest of all. You really need a minimum of 9,000 litres of storage; we have 43 kl providing all our needs including a twice-weekly deep irrigation of the veggie patch in the dry season. For two months in ten years we have been forced to use municipal water.

I recommend fibreglass as it lasts indefinitely and can be repaired if damaged by physical trauma; the tanks are completely UV-resistant. One of ours is 40 years old and still in perfect condition. An underground reservoir with a roof is even better as the water is much colder.

It is not really potable above ground without boiling; bugs will thrive in warm conditions.

• Suburban rainwater tanks
  

You could set up these tanks yourself if you are handy but there are plumbers who specialise in doing it for you.

You start with a network of sewerage pipes leading from your gutters to a low point on your property; the water will gravitate to your tanks or underground-reservoir. From there you pump it into your home and garden.

Imagine if the state donated 240 M rand, a figure that is much bandied about in recent times to domestic water-storage. Two hundred million for the indigent would buy 40,000 tanks.

Another R40 million for a 1000-rand rebate for taxpayers would get a few tens of thousands of city folk well on their way.

A budget of seven billion rand, the amount lost every year would complete solve the problem. Of course the government won’t buy into this but you could.

Broad beans

The broad bean is the queen of our garden; it's a rich source of vegetable protein and an important phytonutrient called L-dopa. But it grows in winter and more than any other vegetable needs an abundant supply of water; it has a very shallow rooting system.

• Broad bean tips
  

The 50% rise in the price from the utility this year has killed gardening in the dry months; both for pleasure and those who desperately need homegrown food. Rain water storage is more important than ever.

Green beans have far less lectins than those that have been dried; those are the anti-nutrients that inhibit the absorption of minerals. They taste a lot nicer too.

So freezing broad beans is very important in our green kitchen. We have a whole year's supply of vegetable protein tucked away. There is absolutely no reasons why anyone with a small piece of ground should be deficient in amino acids; add the occasional egg or glass of milk and all will be provided for.

Actually broad beans are the only legume with all the essential amino acids.

But it's all completely dependent on adequate rain water storage.

• Sweet basil pesto recipe
  

Food for those who want to live long in the land.

Rain water storage

Rain water storage is for every home worldwide. Underground reservoirs are the best and cheapest option. The manna from the heavens is free.

A pool converted into an underground reservoir

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