Well, the view was certainly great while I worked this week installing a new 2,000 gallon water tank at the far edge and on top of the Gully dam. A bit of ditch digging in hard, rocky clay brought forth a few swear words, but I sit here this morning happy that the job is done.
The other two tanks, seen to the right and below this new tank, hold fresh, drinking water that I collect off the several roofs that comprise the Windgrove Centre (house, studio, shower block, shed). This rain water is first stored in tanks down at the centre (around 10,000 gallons) and then pumped up to the Gully Dam tanks as the need arises. What this is all about is insuring that there is great water pressure when showering. I mean, who likes to take a hot shower after a long, hard suffering day and have just a piddling amount of water drip onto one’s sore, tired body?
The new tank, however, will be filled with dam water and will serve two important functions. First, and foremost, is that for the first time in Windgrove’s 15 year history, there is now an immediate and quick response capability for fire fighting. Previously, if a fire were to break out (which happened in the painting studio in 2001) one had to chose between running the three hundred meters to the fire pump by the Peace Garden, starting it and then running back to the house to fight the fire, or, grabbing a bucket, fill it with water from the shower and throw it on the fire. Either way there were problems. The former took several minutes and the latter, although initially quicker, didn’t give much water.
Now, though, if there is a house fire, either of the two fire hoses fixed at opposite corners of the house can be immediately turned on.
The other use of this new tank will be to water the gardens in a more efficient way. And next year, when I hope to build a fairly large garden complex, this will help immensely.
Of course, having the best fire fighting equipment and the best designed garden are useless if there is no water. In the last 14 months there has been no serious rain to speak of. The water tanks at the house are empty leaving only the Gully tanks three quarter full to provide potable water. The photo shows the level of water in the dam for fire fighting. Although not yet at a serious stage, if no good rain falls in the next couple of months things will start to get a bit parched.
I hate to admit it, but I might be forced to install a water saving device onto my favourite shower. Bummer.
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