Month: March 2023

Categories
Water tanks

HOW MUCH RAINWATER CAN BE HARVESTED FROM MY ROOF?

An image of rain falling on a pavement (How much rainwater can be harvested from my roof?)
How much rainwater can be harvested from my roof?

The seasons are changing and we are steadily moving towards Winter now.  In Cape Town, that means we enter our rainy season.  As a result, it’s the optimal time to begin to collect rainwater.  But if you have a water tank and are hoping to collect rainwater you may wonder how much rainwater can be harvested from your roof.  Read on!

As a general rule of thumb, 1mm of rain collected on 1m² of your roof surface will give you 1 litre of water.  

This simple formula will help you to know how to calculate how much rainwater can be harvested.

Rainwater harvesting is an excellent way to save water and to save money.  It’s also a critical component of off-grid living.  

One of the most important first steps towards off-grid living is to have an independent water source. Investing in some water tanks and setting them up to collect rainwater is an effective move toward water security for off-grid living.

The water you harvest can then be used for outdoor and indoor use. And depending on how you decide to use it you will need to consider water filtration, particularly if you plan to drink the water.

If you don’t yet have a water tank and are not harvesting rainwater, then this is the best time to get one and start preparing for the winter rains.

The benefits of rainwater harvesting are as follows:

BENEFITS OF HARVESTING RAINWATER

  • It provides you with an independent water supply
  • Cuts down costs on your water bill
  • Rainwater can be used for your irrigation
  • You can fill your pool with rainwater
  • Saves potable rainwater
  • It can be used for drinking water once treated
  • Can be used for indoor use once treated (eg: flushing toilets)

As you can see rainwater harvesting has so many excellent benefits!  And it’s something we can all do quite easily. 

Contact us today for water tanks, water filtration and solar energy quotes! 

Categories
Pumps

WHAT IS A PRESSURE PUMP?

An image of water (What is a pressure pump?)
What is a pressure pump?

One of the most basic steps to take towards self-sustaining living is to have your own water source.  This could either be through rainwater harvesting or a borehole or wellpoint.  With either of these options, however, you will need to invest in a pump in order to access your water.  But what is a pressure pump? Read on!

A pressure pump (also known as a booster pump) is used when there is low water pressure.  It will increase the volume and pressure of your water as it moves from the water source to its outlets.

WHY WOULD I NEED A PRESSURE PUMP?

You will need it 

  • To access the water from your borehole, wellpoint and rainwater tank
  • For your irrigation system if you have low water pressure
  • To boost the water pressure in your home

It’s becoming more and more important to live as self-sustaining as possible, especially in South Africa.  We often face issues with leaking water pipes and interruptions to our council water supply. As a result, it’s becoming critical to find alternative water sources.

An excellent alternative water source can be found through Rainwater harvesting. There are some great benefits to rainwater harvesting.

RAINWATER HARVESTING BENEFITS

  • You can save money on your water bill
  • It’s an excellent backup to Council supply
  • It helps conserve our water supply

Rainwater harvesting is an excellent way to have an independent water source. It’s fairly easy to collect rainwater however you can read more about some do’s and don’ts for collecting rainwater here.

Moving towards living sustainably can feel overwhelming but it can be done.  We may not all be able to live in a completely self-sustaining way, but we can all take small steps towards this in whatever capacity we can!

We sell a great range of pressure pumps that can help you in your journey towards becoming more self-sustaining!

Contact us today for water filtration, solar energy quotes and pressure pumps!

Categories
Sustainable Living

5 BENEFITS OF RAISING CHICKENS

An image of chickens (5 benefits of raising chickens)
5 benefits of raising chickens

More and more people are moving towards self-sustaining living these days.  Solar power, water filtration and veggie gardens are becoming the norm. And one of the easiest ways to become more self-sustaining is by raising chickens.  Let’s take a look now at the 5 benefits of raising chickens.  

1. HOME-GROWN EGGS

The main benefit is eating fresh, organic eggs every day.  Often times eggs from the store are not the best quality and if you want better quality you have to pay steep prices.

2. YOU CAN SAVE MONEY

You can save money having chickens because you’ll be eating fresh, organic eggs daily without having to pay high prices for them.

3. THEY ARE LOW MAINTENANCE

Chickens are hardy and take care of themselves yet give a high reward. Once you’ve set up their coop the daily maintenance is low and fairly easy.  They mostly look after themselves.

3. FERTILIZER FOR THE GARDEN

Chicken manure makes an excellent fertilizer for the garden that adds critical nutrients back into the soil.  By raising chickens you will have access to a continual supply of excellent quality fertiliser for your garden.

4. PEST AND INSECT CONTROL

Chickens eat various pests and insects in the garden.  As a result, they are an excellent form of insect control.  

5. A GREAT WASTE DISPOSAL SYSTEM

Chickens are an excellent waste disposal system when it comes to kitchen scraps.  Instead of throwing them in the garbage, you can use them as feed for your chickens.

As you can see, raising chickens is an excellent step towards living in a self-sustaining way. It may not be possible to live completely self-sustaining but we can all take steps towards it!

Contact us today for water filtration, and solar energy quotes!