Does South Africa have a water crisis or simply a water problem?

[Speedster]

Think how much water you use on a daily basis then work out how much of that really needs to be potable. It's really not much of a challenge.

Which brings one into a different topic - are we replumbing our houses to seperate rain/ground/grey water from potable taps?

 

[Vorastra]

So it's more expensive and more complicated to store than rain water?

Actually I was thinking about that. How much would it cost to completely replace a house's water connection with rain water. A catchment system (probably house roof), tanks to hold kilolitres at a time (I use 13kl a month for example) and extra in case of droughts since I mean a completely off-muni system, and then a pump system to move it around the house, as well as the manual time or system to regulate the water and keep it potable.

Hmmmm.

 

[Vorastra]

Think how much water you use on a daily basis then work out how much of that really needs to be potable. It's really not much of a challenge.

That's not how that works. You'd have to replumb your house then since you'd start fouling your plumbing.

 

[Speedster]

Actually I was thinking about that. How much would it cost to completely replace a house's water connection with rain water. Tanks to hold kilolitres at a time (I use 13kl a month for example) and extra in case of droughts since I mean a completely off-muni system, and then a pump system to move it around the house, as well as the manual time or system to regulate the water and keep it potable.

Hmmmm.

This is very feasible. The thing to keep in mind is that if you slip up / something goes wrong there are very significant health dangers.

 

[Vorastra]

This is very feasible. The thing to keep in mind is that if you slip up / something goes wrong there are very significant health dangers.

Yes. But still I wonder how much it would actually be to set everything up and the running costs of pumping and treating. I mean, muni water is pretty cheap, at least where I am. About 2.9c/l.

 

[bwana]

Which brings one into a different topic - are we replumbing our houses to seperate rain/ground/grey water from potable taps?

I don't. I have a filtration system in the kitchen for drinking water.

Actually I was thinking about that. How much would it cost to completely replace a house's water connection with rain water. Tanks to hold kilolitres at a time (I use 13kl a month for example) and extra in case of droughts since I mean a completely off-muni system, and then a pump system to move it around the house, as well as the manual time or system to regulate the water and keep it potable.

Hmmmm.

My tanks cost me a little less than R1 per litre. I'd imagine the amount of storage you need would depend on your available collection area and typical monthly rainfall.

ATM I'm conserving tank water and just using it for laundry. This drought of ours could go the distance and I want to have a decent reserve. If the dams start recovering I'll revery back to using the tanks.

 

[Speedster]

Yes. But still I wonder how much it would actually be to set everything up and the running costs of pumping and treating. I mean, muni water is pretty cheap, at least where I am. About 2.9c/l.

I think the argument is akin to the solar argument. Finances play a role, but uninterrupted availablity more so. If pottable water succumbs to water-shedding then the costs become secondary.

 

[Speedster]

I don't. I have a filtration system in the kitchen for drinking water.

My tanks cost me a little less than R1 per litre. I'd imagine the amount of storage you need would depend on your available collection area and typical monthly rainfall.

ATM I'm conserving tank water and just using it for laundry. This drought of ours could go the distance and I want to have a decent reserve. If the dams start recovering I'll revery back to using the tanks.

I guess being in the EC paints a different picture to being in Gauteng.

 

[Vorastra]

I think the argument is akin to the solar argument. Finances play a role, but uninterrupted availablity more so. If pottable water succumbs to water-shedding then the costs become secondary.

True. The acceptability and viability of the cost per litre changes immensely if the alternative is...not having water.

 

[bwana]

Yes. But still I wonder how much it would actually be to set everything up and the running costs of pumping and treating. I mean, muni water is pretty cheap, at least where I am. About 2.9c/l.

You don't do it to save money.

 

[Vorastra]

You don't do it to save money.

Yes, like you for example where the alternative is not having water. I understand that.
But still, I wonder what it would actually cost and how viable it would be to completely go off-grid for water and stay off=grid permanently.

 

[bwana]

Yes, like you for example where the alternative is not having water. I understand that.
But still, I wonder what it would actually cost and how viable it would be to completely go off-grid for water and stay off=grid permanently.

I worked it out last year that it saves me about r110 a month running off tanks.

 

[B-1]

Yes, like you for example where the alternative is not having water. I understand that.
But still, I wonder what it would actually cost and how viable it would be to completely go off-grid for water and stay off=grid permanently.

Its not that much in terms being able to have a semi normal life. But if you have a garden, lawn, pool and waste quite bit it adds up quickly.
Reusing grey water makes a big difference. You can recycle water quite a few times at home without any issues. For instance shower water that went through a settling tank is fine for washing machines, toilets, garden etc

 

[bwana]

Reusing grey water makes a big difference. You can recycle water quite a few times at home without any issues. For instance shower water that went through a settling tank is fine for washing machines, toilets, garden etc

Toilets and the garden fine, but never for washing clothes.

 

[wingnut771]

Let's start with the Vaal dam? Or Gariep? Maybe Theewaterskloof?

Let’s revisit this during a drought.

 

[DreamKing]

we have an anc problem only, nothing else.

 

[bwana]

Let’s revisit this during a drought.

PE is currently experiencing a drought and the [vast] majority of it's water is currently coming from Gariep...

 

[Supervan II]

Actually I was thinking about that. How much would it cost to completely replace a house's water connection with rain water. A catchment system (probably house roof), tanks to hold kilolitres at a time (I use 13kl a month for example) and extra in case of droughts since I mean a completely off-muni system, and then a pump system to move it around the house, as well as the manual time or system to regulate the water and keep it potable.

Hmmmm.

Been off municipal water since September 2008. Rainwater tanks (10KL) plumbed into house with in-line filter.

Water for consumption (coffee/tea) is boiled before use (obviously).

No health problems whatsoever. My tank water is probably safer to drink than what is supplied by the municipality - and the supply is more reliable too.

ETA: Reservoirs have been running dry, pumps have failed, pipes have burst. We even had instances where a major supply pump tripped and no-one realised that it had until the reservoir was almost empty! Many suburbs have been without water for days on end, etc, etc.

ETA 2: My setup consists of 2 x 2500l & 1 x 5000l tanks, a 0.75kw pump & controller and an in-line filter. All installation and plumbing was done by myself - and no, I am not a plumber.

 

[Supervan II]

Which brings one into a different topic - are we replumbing our houses to seperate rain/ground/grey water from potable taps?

Most municipalities specifically prohibit this, as there is a real need for water to enter the sewerage system for it to work properly. You'll find that most houses built since the 1980's do not have any exposed outlets/drains as they are plumbed directly into the sewerage system.

 

[Vorastra]

Been off municipal water since September 2008. Rainwater tanks (10KL) plumbed into house with in-line filter.

Water for consumption (coffee/tea) is boiled before use (obviously).

No health problems whatsoever. My tank water is probably safer to drink than what is supplied by the municipality - and the supply is more reliable too.

ETA: Reservoirs have been running dry, pumps have failed, pipes have burst. We even had instances where a major supply pump tripped and no-one realised that it had until the reservoir was almost empty! Many suburbs have been without water for days on end, etc, etc.

How is pressure achieved?