[LINK] Re: using resources in communal settings

[Stewart Fist]

Grove wrote:
> 
> In various places in Spain (the Mediterranean has a similar climate to our
> own),
> they have huge "cisternos" which trap all the runoff that would otherwise
> be wasted.
> 
> I have always considered Australia to have a Middle Eastern or Mediterranean
> climate but it would seem we do not appreciate water in the same way
> as those regions.

Right on.  I've always thought the best and cheapest way Sydney could double
its water supply is by cutting large cisterns into the Hawkesbury sandstone,
at the head of each gully to trap storm-water run-off from a suburb.  It
could be temporarily stored, then either:

- pumped back to a higher reservoir for later use, by using the local
fire-brigade pipelines or

- Dropped down into the major acquifers under Sydney, to replenish what is
currently a moderately scarce resource.

On SBS the other night one of the experts pointed out that desalination
costs were about $2 per kilolitre with a large plant, and that recycling was
about the same.  But he also said household tank water costs (all costs
included) about $5 per kilolitre.

I'd like to see his figures, but I am prepared to accept this in the
meantime.

So cistern harvesting of street-water looks extremely good in terms of both
quantity and cost, I would think.



-- 
Stewart Fist, writer, journalist, film-maker
70 Middle Harbour Road, LINDFIELD, 2070, NSW, Australia
Ph +61 (2) 9416 7458