Wet Wet Wet

As is the case with so many things in life, water supply in Reikorangi certainly does not disappoint. In the dry January /February months, so many neighbours (and sometimes ourselves) run out of domestic water and are forced to buy water from a tanker service company. On the other hand, however, we tend to have more water than anyone could want during the rainier months, around June and July. 

According to my accurate calculations, using advanced arithmathematics, including a clear understanding of metrics and my most intimate knowledge of statistics, I came to the conclusion that every single millimetre of rainfall supplies us with approximately give-or-take about 300 litres of household drinking water. That's one and a half old fashion 45 gallon drumsful, which is plenty if you use the water exclusively to make tea, but when it comes to bathing, showering, toileting and laundering for seven people, it is drastically less than one day's needs, let alone taking into account the needs of a garden or expansive lawn.

Ho-hum. A bit of a dull subject. Which is probably a reflection of a "temporary" creative writing drought. I will classify the post as a historical domestic record with a batch of photos, for future reference.

The little lake-lets in the potager pebble area form principally as a result of overflow from the grey storage tank, because the main tank has been filled to capacity. The overflow will be controlled in future by pumping the unwanted excess down to the "orchard-chook" paddock. This could be done neatly via an underground hose from the tank farm running through the freshly-dug trench for the front lawn French drain and then through the under-drive pipe installed by John. Or not?

Overnight 15/16 July, we've had 27mm of rain --that's about 8,100 litres (in drinking language). 

(Above) The waterlogged ground, partly caused by overflow from the grey tank

(Above): The north-western corner of the potager pebbled area.

(Above): Potager pebbles

(Above): One of the corners of the Pohutukawa bed -- a true soggy boggy mire.

(Above): The lawn and driveway (principally) seems to drain quite well
into the newly-dug trench for the French drain. 

  

(Above): The flower-bed drain also seems quite effective.

(Above): The flower-bed trench has a lot more water than I expected. At the catchpit end,
the top of a vertical standard brick is just visible at the surface of the pond.