|
Edited on Thu Jan-03-08 08:14 AM by Dover
Like what kind of 'custom' ground water tanks did you have put in? Cement? I know they make durable underground plastic tanks for storage of potable water, so curious why you went custom. And how far under did you go, or did you place them above ground and have them covered with dirt?
Currently and historically people generally collected rain runoff but it was also pumped from their wells into a cistern and/or an open cattle tank. Depends on climate, location, resources and intended use. Anyway, perhaps well diggers who are bound by state regulations and know what's coming down the pike in the way of new laws, are a little nervous about people storing lots of underground water (a trend toward hording?). Or more likely they really don't understand your logic since the underground water IS sort of like having a big underground cistern. And it doesn't sound like yours is likely to run low anytime soon.
I just recently heard about that pump/solar combination you mention, and am also curious if anyone has used it.
Texas is starting to require people to register their groundwater wells and may eventually meter them. They are very interested in how groundwater is being used, stored, distributed, recycled, etc.
I don't think folks ought to count exclusively on groundwater, but should collect, store and recycle water in as many ways as they can think of (like graywater, rainwater collection, etc.). And groundwater can be very hard on the plumbing over time if it has alot of calcium, lime or other minerals.
In areas where there is a drought there are restrictions on water use in place like in N.C., and instead of putting their money into rainwater collection, etc., wealthy folks are digging wells, assuming they can use water to their heart's content and not be penalized (a loophole in the law). They even put signs in their yards thumbing their nose at any potential 'water police' to let them know that they are watering from a well, so nah-nah! Real jerks. That kind of irresponsible behavior should hasten the closure of that loophole pretty quickly.
You might also pose your questions in the Environmental Forum. Lots of knowledgable people there on this subject and all things sustainable.
Anyway, I'm very interested in your project and would really love to hear more details.
Thanks!
|