Do you have a backup water supply?

Do you have a backup water supply?

  • Yes

    Votes: 167 39.5%

  • Not yet, but I'm looking into it

    Votes: 125 29.6%

  • No plans to

    Votes: 116 27.4%

  • Other

    Votes: 15 3.5%
  • Total voters
    423
Unfortunately, I have space constraints, and would need permission from the body corporate to install any kind of back-up. That said, it is probably something that I should be exploring, even it is a small Jo-Jo tank or similar.
 
Creag said:
Unfortunately, I have space constraints, and would need permission from the body corporate to install any kind of back-up. That said, it is probably something that I should be exploring, even it is a small Jo-Jo tank or similar.
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Even a small (1000l) flowbin? They're pretty easy to tuck away in a corner.
 
Yes. Not for drinking water though (havent drunk the tap water in years). I have a submersible pump in the pool, feeding the house. Toilets can flush, washer operates, we bath/shower.
Get drinking water from Oasis down the road (they have a borehole).
Rainwater tanks feed the pool, and only occasionally do I need to top up the pool with municipal supply.
 
Here every house has had rainwater tanks since the 80s. I've upped the number of tanks at my place from 5000 to 15000 liters and will probably install another 5000 liter tank next month for the garden. All the tanks are plumbed into the house and all greywater is plumbed to the garden.

I need a constant supply of water to the garden while my food forest is establishing.
 
We'll be looking at backup water supply and rain water capture at our new house as we have a lot more space for storage and collection.
 
Currently have 5000L installed to harvest rainwater, mainly for pool and garden, but will install another 5000L separate that I can use to plumb into the house with a pressure pump etc...right after I get the solar install sorted! Crazy the lengths we have to go to ensure we are safe inside our own property + providing ourselves with basic services!
 
Mista_Mobsta said:
Currently have 5000L installed to harvest rainwater, mainly for pool and garden, but will install another 5000L separate that I can use to plumb into the house with a pressure pump etc...right after I get the solar install sorted! Crazy the lengths we have to go to ensure we are safe inside our own property + providing ourselves with basic services!
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Good plan. Things get tricky when you're running off tanks and get loadshedded.

Norrad said:
Here every house has had rainwater tanks since the 80s. I've upped the number of tanks at my place from 5000 to 15000 liters and will probably install another 5000 liter tank next month for the garden. All the tanks are plumbed into the house and all greywater is plumbed to the garden.

I need a constant supply of water to the garden while my food forest is establishing.
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Here?
 
bwana said:
Good plan. Things get tricky when you're running off tanks and get loadshedded.


Here?
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While we on this topic - has anyone managed to install a 12V, or similar, booster pump that will provide adequate pressure inside the house + geyser? My PCV valves are all 400kpa so what type of booster pump would I need to ensure sufficient pressure?
 
Other - I just spent my life savings on a Solar System to sort out my Electricity supply. Now we have water restrictions and it is just defeating me because I have zero money to do the borehole thing. So I guess my answer is: if I could afford to put in a backup water supply I would, but I have no money and I am not going into debt for this unless it gets real dire.

Also, boreholes are not like the Sun. They are unpredictable and come with lots of challenges if you are unlucky and can't hit water down there. This is my "uninformed" view of them. I have zero experience with them.

P.S. I have a 5000 litre Jojo which collects rainwater from my roof space. It is amazing when it rains but it has been empty since April so I don't consider that a viable option for a backup water supply. Perhaps if I had 30 or 40kl water storage it would be better suited for Winter use. Again at R 17k a pop I would be looking at 68k just for the tanks. Once you add pumps, filters, plumbing, labour etc. it would probably come to R 150k.
 
Mista_Mobsta said:
While we on this topic - has anyone managed to install a 12V, or similar, booster pump that will provide adequate pressure inside the house + geyser? My PCV valves are all 400kpa so what type of booster pump would I need to ensure sufficient pressure?
Click to expand...
I can run my pump off the generator but it's uses close to half of what it can output. :eek:

I have a smaller 110w pump I want to use in future just to fill the toilet cisterns.

Athos said:
P.S. I have a 5000 litre Jojo which collects rainwater from my roof space. It is amazing when it rains but it has been empty since April so I don't consider that a viable option for a backup water supply. Perhaps if I had 30 or 40kl water storage it would be better suited for Winter use. Again at R 17k a pop I would be looking at 68k just for the tanks. Once you add pumps, filters, plumbing, labour etc. it would probably come to R 150k.
Click to expand...
R17k a pop for what? Our tanks worked out at less than R1 per litre storage and that's at the inflated PE panic buying prices.
 
I wanted to add more solar panels to my setup, went small solar, big batteries to start off just to get some backup/standby. Now looking to do this instead, at least have a mix of backups, already done the gas stove and geyser.
 
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