Thread: pipe water or well?

VincentOG

...Water is a particularly scare resource in Bali and it is good if long term visitors can take steps not to delete the supply for the locals...

Many people don't understand that. The sooner the better, in my opinion.

8)

Vincent, great info. Thanks for all of that. Just really important that a long term vision is used rather than the same old trap of using it all up.

VincentOG,

Thanks so much for the info. I, too, am deeply concerned about the water situation in Bali. The situation is, in my opinion, already critical. We experienced water shortages in my husband's village in 2004 and again in 2006. And let me tell you, it was not fun. Like you, I think we need to get a little more creative about how we collect/use water. I look forward to reading the articles you provided us links to.

Cheers!

Well and pipe, both available at your door step??!! It seems the first thing on the agenda is to thank the gods for your good fortunes.
I have been working for years with communities both in Africa and in Asia, including Indonesia, trying to provide them with at least the minimum standards (20l per person per day) instead of having the village kids -usualy girls- walk over an hour to fetch enough water for their daily family needs.
OK the point is not to make anybody feel guilty about taking long showers, just trying to put things into perspective. Water is an extremely precious resource and should be treated as such. Bali is blessed with generous rainfalls and water catchment is a totally viable alternative as I have discussed this with VincentOG,Hi Vincent! However, if you do have the choice between two alternatives, you probably don't need a third one -although I'm glad Vincent brought in the subject of underused water catchment systems-especially if you're only renting.
It seems you're mainly concerned about availability rather than quality. As every one wisely advised you, neither your well water nor your piped water is likely to be potable and should be first treated before being swallowed. Since your well runs dry and you are concerned about water delivery shortage from PDMA I would advise you get a storage container (its size depends on your daily water consumption and on the longest periods of shortage) that will give you enough back up during dry times. My guess is that shortage on piped water are likely to be shorter that the time your well runs dry so I would go with the piped water alternative. After burning a little incense stick that is.

Vince, based on your previous posts I think you and share similar concerns for our building processes here and I think we should keep in touch - what size collection and storage are you looking at for how many people?

Rainwater collection is a great process and I will persuing a system on my next venture - here's a great resource for info, etc. http://www.oasisdesign.net/index.htm
For me however it's a matter of quality not quantity.

Any small island has a limit to its natural resources - ground water included. However, again a lot of alarm and fear being spread here based on rumors and assumtions. Ground water availablity here varies by location - always has and always will. So someone please provide me with a study that indicates that the water table is dropping here, because I'm not aware of it.

Back again ...... just returned from consult with a friend who's in the water treatment business and I discussed a number the issues addressed here.

Rain water collection - requires collection, storage, and treatment if you intend to drink it. Collection systems can range from simple gutter to more much more involved system, and depends on water needs. Storage also depends on need and but has a significant cost attached. All in all a much more costly than a typical sleeved well. As Vince has done, it's a matter of factoring needs, wants, and available recourse.

But as far the political issue of western expats impacting the water table - where's the beef????? No studies that I am aware of point to this, nor indicate decreasing annual rainfall. Water is a RENEWABLE resource and most of that used finds it's way back to the water table. Variations in well levels are the norm and, unless there is a serious continuing pattern, don't indicate much at all.

So to infer that an expat community of 10 -15,000 is having a major impact on island with nearly 4 million inhabitants, I think, is a JOKE. And one can rid them self of any guilt by using wisely and treating their waste properly - grey water recycling and wastewater garden mentioned by Vince are the best approaches available, at a minimum a properly designed and working septic system is a must.

Hey Vince -

Thanks for the thorough response.

I hear you loud and clear on all points. And I was in no way discussing the impact of the tourism industry on water, which is a whole other ball game. We are in strong agreement on the golf course issue. I'm equally offended by the rise of other related development on the island such as helicopter flyovers and water parks - and I'm afraid it's only the begining (a proposed monorail???).

In building my first project here I had a near religous experience about my impact on the planet and it changed me and my plans for future building. I have since been devouring info on relevant progressive building practices.

As for water treatment I was refering to a filter/purification system, which would be done after storage but prior to domestic use - with benefits to both pipe and person. Bypass for garden use. Test the rain water for it's make-up.

Check Oasis, the guy's a water guru :-).

Cheers

So what type of water filtration do posters use? Is there a variety available?

The new houses next to us, are using stinky bore water. The occupants are not very happy