Skip to Content.
Sympa Menu

homestead - Re: [Homestead] Water, water, water, was Ram pump rules of thumb

homestead AT lists.ibiblio.org

Subject: Homestead mailing list

List archive

Chronological Thread  
  • From: Gene GeRue <genegerue AT ruralize.com>
  • To: homestead AT lists.ibiblio.org
  • Subject: Re: [Homestead] Water, water, water, was Ram pump rules of thumb
  • Date: Sat, 02 Sep 2006 12:43:59 -0500


Now that it is the end of summer, you might be able to find someone who
wants to freecycle or rid themselves of that above ground pool in their
yard.

A nearby blueberry operation uses an above-ground pool to settle out the minerals in their well water to avoid plugging the small holes in their drip irrigation lines. They do, indeed, hold a lot of water.

It would seem to me that the metal type could be used as a
ferrocement base for an above ground cistern.

Lots of ways to build a cistern. For a permanent design I might pour a thin floor of wire and mortar into which the bottom of fence material could be inserted. After that dries, add poultry mesh to the fence, then do the normal ferrocement routine. The biggest challenge would be building the roof. Without a roof on the tank you would need extensive, cleanable filters, depending on ultimate use, household or garden certainly, stock tanks maybe not. Without a roof on the tank, think algae, leaves, and windblown debris, not to mention various critters including mosquitos.

If you are just watering your garden, you don't have to worry about growing
algea or tadpoles in the cistern. Duck poo in the pool? Fertilizer. :)
Toss a few comets or other fish in the pool next Spring for additional
fertilizer and mosquito control.

How could dirty water be used in the garden? Only free-flowing through a sizable pipe would avoid the plugging problem. Crud would eventually diminish the flow of a pipe. Most people prefer the weep hoses and those tiny holes easily plug up.






Archive powered by MHonArc 2.6.24.

Top of Page