I mentioned below that we all had mini research projects to do while on the USVI trip. I chose to do mine on the research station's rain catchment system, since back at BLS I'm also trying to get one built for the garden. Follow the pictures as I explain:
Whoops, that's a picture of Brian sleeping (to Brian - remember that deal we had? That you could use my blanket if I could post this picture? Well, here you go ;D). Anyway...
The research station has a slight downhill slope. Pipes that catch rainwater from rooftops run down that slope to a cistern (see picture below).
There are actually three of these holding tanks in the cistern. Rainwater goes to just one of them, and then go through a filter into the second one (sink/toilet water), and yet another one for the third one (drinking water).
Here you can see how the water is caught off the roof. This building happens to be the classroom building, which is why there's snorkeling gear on the deck and people inside (I think it was Robin and Sam? Or maybe Lily...)
All three holding tanks are connected by an outside pipe, which in turn connects too a super-filter system.
There are two basic parts - one is where the water goes through a filter similar to the ones used in coffee, except much more dense, and the other is where chlorine is added in order to kill bacteria. Every once in a while a park ranger comes by and checks on the chlorine levels in the water. The research station is required to add chlorine in the water. The water can now run up to the kitchen, where it also goes through ultraviolet light and is then used in cooking and making lemonade for us to drink :)
Kudos to Randy for giving me a tour of the rain catchment system!
-Mindy
Kudos to Randy for giving me a tour of the rain catchment system!
-Mindy