Water Consumption

[Wotname]

Jim is correct, rain water collection (for drinking etc) is standard practice in rural Australia - posted by a local rural Aussie.

[sailing now]

Many or most people in the Bahamas use cisterns to collect rain water for drinking, bathing, etc. When rain is scarce and the cisterns need filling, they resort to buying RO water. I've been told by several Bahamians, that after several fillings with RO water, they have to go into their cisterns and scrub them down. Could be caused by the transport tanks or whatever, but they far prefer rainwater to RO.

[swagman]

We have same needs as you (drinking, rinse after swim / wash) plus occassional full blown showers, and tend to average 15 litres per person per day.

Cheers

JOHN

[bobsadler]

The Australian town that kicked the bottle - World - NZ Herald News

[Vasco]

Originally Posted by sailing now

Many or most people in the Bahamas use cisterns to collect rain water for drinking, bathing, etc. .

We have used the cistern at Normans Cay in the Bahamas many times. This cistern is under the clubhouse of the resort that drug smuggler Carlos Leder, now serving god knows how many years in a Florida jail, owned. The clubhouse has deteriorated to nearly a bare shell now but the cistern is still fine. We've been using this cistern since 1990. A few leaves and bugs floating on the top but cruisers always replace the cover after use.

[MarkJ]

Originally Posted by bobsadler

The Australian town that kicked the bottle - World - NZ Herald News

That goodness theres one smart town in the world. While the moronic greenies are bleating crap they suck water from bottles like babies.

Its the most enviromentaly mental thing since Dolphin friendly tuna.

[ausieman]

I spent the first 45 years of my life 60km from the Sydney Harbour Bridge (as the crow flies). We never had luxuries like city water or sewerage, bloody hell we didn't get a garbage collection service until I was about 30. All our water including drinking came off the roof of the house and shed then straight into the concrete storage tanks. I remember for many years the main tank was home for a green tree snake ( he/she could always be found just inside the inspection port on top of the tank coiled around a convenient piece of plumbing) I guess it was well fed on the odd frog that paid a visit to this permanent water supply. Being so close to a major city (acid rain ?) and all the bird droppings mixed in with snake and frog poo I guess one would imagine that the water would be dirtier than that of any third world country but it was exactly the opposite. After 2 years away from there I can still smell the chlorine every time I take a shower and I'm not going to mention the taste, how I miss my fresh rain water.

[GordMay]

Originally Posted by Vasco

We have used the cistern at Normans Cay in the Bahamas many times. This cistern is under the clubhouse of the resort that drug smuggler Carlos Leder (sic: Lehder), now serving god knows how many years in a Florida jail, owned. The clubhouse has deteriorated to nearly a bare shell now but the cistern is still fine. We've been using this cistern since 1990. A few leaves and bugs floating on the top but cruisers always replace the cover after use.

In 1992, in exchange for agreement to testify against Manuel Noriega, Carlos Lehder’s sentence for life without parole plus 135 years was reduced to a total sentence of 55 years and Lehder went into the Bureau of Prisons’ version of the federal Witness Protection Program.

The "clubhouse" as seen from the harbour road.

[FloridaWriter]

Originally Posted by barnakiel

Well,

- have visited both NZ (North Island) and Australia (NT). Yes, I have seen people collecting rain water, but NO, I have not seen anybody drinking it, the rainwater was used to water the plants. In Australia I have NOT seen water collecting devices, and what can be more rural than the Northern Territory? The drinking water there came from shops (!) and desalination plants.

- local people are not bothered by local bacteria in the same way the traveler is. Any doubters please get yourself the favor and visit India - somehow, however, Indians are not a nation in risk of extinction from diarrhea. To get the thing a due perspective please read information available on tropical diseases and their most common causes. An interesting lecture.

- our rain teas were nothing but hot and pretty muddy liquid, as for coffee I could not detect the bad taste, but probably we have to ask someone who knows about coffee - a French, or an Italian perhaps, unless what you mean by coffee is Nescafe or something of this sort.

- next time out please do not boil the water (tea...cofee...) just drink it as it comes from heavens and report your findings, it is always good to learn from others' experience.

- the arguments may be labeled silly but how does it make them any less valid or interesting; naming an argument silly does not disprove it, or does it?

Hugs to all ya,
barnie

The only water on Abaco is rain water stored in cisterns. The water is very good there but more expensive than Kalik. I would think outside of areas that have desal facilities that is true for most of the Bahamas.

[bobsadler]

a bit more info

Rainwater Safe To Drink: Monash University Study

[zeehag]

the only problems associated with drinking rainwater kept in the tanks on a boat come from the tanks on that boat-----lol---rainwater is awesome and makes great replacement water.....sure beats pcb infested plastic bottled water LOL.......if there is a mold problem in your tanks, then fix it--use the rain water and enjoy nature--is what it is here for------LOL......