Rainwater Tanks Are In

The rainwater tanks arrived on Monday at 8:30pm. On Tuesday, the plumbers re-assessed project (hence previous irrate post) and yesterday they began work.







The drains all go under ground now to the 2 tanks which are 5000gallon each. Therefore we have 45000 litres of tanks connected to the house. The third 5000 gallon tank will go the shed.








The down pipes USED to curl under and UP under the verandah into long pipes that were suspended and had lots of bows in them so that there would have been lots of puddles of water in the pipes all the time because they couldn't drain properly. So, all the down pipes were cut and have been extended straight down into the ground where we laid new pipes right around the house 50cm deep.





They all go to a first flush device, which will stop the first 30~40 litres of rainwater from going into the tank. Instead they will drain away into my future wetland/pool.

As for the future wetland, I'm talking about a Natural Swimming Pool.... see the link below. They've been big in Europe for 20 years and in the UK for a few years and they're just being found out in the US. I want to do something along those lines.... they rely on aggregate and planted out shallow sections as well as water cirulation in order to have a swimming
hole that is clear and clean without the
need for artificial chemicals such as chlorine. Which also means that insects and fish and frogs that eat mozzie larvae can also live there. The water cirulation further deters mosquitoes.... anyway, I digress...


I cleaned out the gutters today and Nettie
has started work on the soil (I'l let her post about that) and the Stump-grinder guy has come. So no more big stumps... and we have to find uses for the large logs that are left. Maybe a few garden benches and coffee tables and chairs...

Anyway, all good apart from the usual challenges and frustrations!

CYA

Work Commencing FInally!

ARRRGGGHHH... so frustrating... and its only just starting. One of my main stresses planning this is that we are working with new trademen. We aren't dealing with any of the guys that I've developed relationships and raport with over the last 6 years, doing renovations and repairs on our properties. I'm stressed because I don't trust these new people. Maybe I'd be happier if we had lots of quotes.... hmmm maybe I will get more quotes.

Anyway, on the weekend, I worked at clearing things around the site so that the tanks could be installed. I had to put the plumbers off again because there were no tanks! They were supposed to be at the property during the settlement process, or at the very least on settlement, but they weren't there. We requested them 2 weeks ago and were told 'in a few days', which came and went. I rung them (previous vendors) again a few times until they told me 'Wednesday', which came and went and then they promised me 'Sunday'. On Sunday, after numerous calls and messages, they returned my call at 2pm and said they would be here in 1~1.5 hours. Again, no show until I heard back at about 5pm when they said that it didn't fit their truck so they've hired a semi and it'll be there mid-afternoon the next day. I got to the property in the afternoon (again, a couple of unreturned calls) and surprise surprise, no tanks... I got hold of them this time at 5pm and they said they were on their way up to get the tanks... ... I waited for them for a couple of hours but went home in disgust at 7:45pm after not being able to contact them at all. Mobile ringing out and being ignored no doubt. I finally got the tanks at 8:30pm last night.

This morning the plumbers came. Alas, the job was bigger than the guys thought... or at least bigger than what they were told by their boss. Also, the existing stormwater drain system is crap (which I had thought, but the guy who inspected it and quoted the job didn't mention anything or have a problem with it)... So to cut a long story short, the job to install the tanks and finish the rain water drains have been re-quoted and its over double. From $1975 to $4213.5 !*?!*?! Anyway, needless to say, I'm peaved off. I'm still going to get them to do the job, because its ready to go. Tomorrow I have to run around and sort out valves and stuff which should be with the tanks but aren't...Arrrggggh! But unless Annette can convince me otherwise, I'm not going to get them for the remaining work which they've quoted about $7000 for.. who knows how much I'll have to spend! We were also going to get them to put in the solar hot water system (~$5000) and the greywater system (~$7000)... again, I don't want to use them at this stage... which is definitely a bad omen considering they haven't even started any work yet.

Oh well, lets see how it pans out. Catchya

Pete