bob the builder 7 of 8

BOB THE BUILDER 7

Right now we are at $6500.  Still below the cost of my other lot of land, and half the cheapest new car you could find.  I’m writing this sixth installment just one day after the first article appeared on the blog ( writing up to a week or week and a half prior to publication ) and a lot of commotion is being raised about bulk water supplies.  I’ll cover that before I wrap up this series with all the miscellaneous items sure to bring joy and happiness to the off-grid experience.  First off, whatever picture you have in your head about water storage, STOP!  This isn’t Dune where the guerrillas have a secret million or billion or whatever gallon underwater aqueduct.  Bigger is NOT better.  More is better, but bigger is not better.  For artificial water storage, you must have many small units rather than one large one.  Earthquake damage, vandalism, manufactures sloppy quality control ( on purpose or unintentional, whatever ).  Always assume the worst and the worst is something happening to your sole source of water.  Before I buried a 1500 gallon tank I’d bury five 300 gallon tanks, regardless of extra money or extra digging.  I started my water storage with 2 liter soda bottles, added one gallon juice bottles ( very thick and strong plastic ) and then a few water delivery company five gallon jugs.  It’s enough for several months worth of water.  I’ll start out bigger this next time, but it will be tank (s) in multiples rather than one single one. 

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As my roof will be plastic and dirt-I refuse to get taxed more and spend more in materials and improve my odds of being seen from afar-my rain catchment is going to be cement on the ground.  Ferrocement- chicken wire and cement ( Portland cement, one part cement to three parts sand ).  Add a bit of dirt color, and weave the slab around in-place shrub brushes for camo with the bottom trench collecting and diverting the water into your buried water container ( my thoughts are to use the square types encircled by a metal cage ).  As my lot is rolling I have plenty of spots that gently roll downhill. 

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I don’t see the need to completely duplicate an on grid water system.  For sinks, an elevated container above on a shelf, suitably prettied up, give you all the water you need.  For showers, I still think a stove heated pot for hot is adequate.  As you age, shrink the size of the pots and add more so the weight is not an issue.  Dump in a bucket next to the shower along with cold, and insert your 12v water pump hose ( plugged into the bathroom battery ) which runs to your shower head.  When done, hide the components ( or, have an enclosed cabinet for the bucket which opens on top ).  For the gals, separately wash your hair in the sink ( you might have to help her dumping water over her head ).  All this low flow will help conserve water.  Next article will wrap up the series.

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