Water , water everywhere …

 

Dawn on a new beginning?

Now I really must be risking fate , starting to write this blog  before our deluge comes to pass……

‘ Water , water everywhere, nor a drop to drink ‘   (The Ancient  Mariner ) .That could be us except we are  just ageing , not yet classified as ancient .    So the only water available to us has been the swimming pool , and you would have to be particularly desperate to drink that .  At least we can  shower and flush the loo with it . I only once made a mistake taking a mouthful , in horror spat it out before swallowing . I didn’t make the same mistake twice . 

So reminder to my readers on our water woes ( Summary version! ) . So the borehole ran out of water first week in August . Not catastrophic as we have an old well , but then found its pump was not powerful enough to serve the upstairs .  First new pump was lost by the courier, second only lasted a week before burning out . Supplier needed five weeks before replacement could be considered ( Why ? Perhaps they were trying to “ starve “us into submission . ) . Leak found on pool, now repaired; leak also on pipe from well, pipe replaced . Storage tanks and pump installed to take water from borehole ; to balance out supply and demand and settle sand and silt. Awaiting alteration of electrics and controls for borehole . “ Things can only get better !”

Last week our electrician wired in the new pump in the Storage tank , and replaced my previous horrible wiring for all the other pumps. . Found a company to change the control for borehole , they looked at the house , waited three weeks knowing we were desperate, and then sent a quote for Euro 12,000 ! Do we really look that dumb? ( no need to answer) . So I continued to chase the borehole pump installer to quote . Finally he arrived after two half months of my pestering ; together with his very nice dog,  who welcomes our open spaces .  Things are getting better. 

So good news! ; after a summer resting , the water level in the borehole had returned to 26m down , leaving 70 m usable water underneath . This is almost exciting news ! All ( ? ) that  remains is to change control so that it pumps into the Storage tanks , and from there into the house . Awaiting alternative quotes from  electrician and borehole man . But first need to fill the storage tanks, can’t wait weeks for the borehole to fill them . Straight forward ? No !

Our friendly vineyard has a tractor drawn tanker , but I need to get permission from the town a hall  to take some of their precious water . Suitable form completed , submitted together with proof of ownership of house ; apparently paying rates for twenty years was not good enough ! Form vanishes into Marie , never to be seen again . By chance I had also met the mayor , but he was particularly unimpressed by our plight , with the rejoinder “ I am in the countryside with my own water problems “ . 

But wait! ( we have been) , on Monday a huge tanker is arriving with 16,000 litres, to fill storage tanks , and top up pool ( to protect its structural integrity  …allowable under drought rules ). Our borehole man gave us  his contact ; arrangements took just one phone call . Clearly a private contractor , with his own water supply.   My long suffering wife , she of changing hair colour with washing in chlorine ( I think a nice colour , a view not shared!  ) ..is planning a very long shower Monday night in compensation for the months of chlorinated submersion.   ..and yes ( The excitement is building ) , the pump supplier embarrassed by the long delay is sending a new pump ,  ( for the well)  . We will have two sources of water . I suspect another long shower is in the offing .

Ah , not quite so fast , none of this water is truly potable as it is coming from tanks or the well . Still not a drop to drink ! , although it must be said a considerable improvement on drinking that from the swimming pool !  So we await the return of our plumber to install improved filters,  and UV sterilisation. No problem , we have a hall, full of water in plastic bottles which will need using up. 

As water woes drift off into the sun set , I can relax ; ah except for that necessary to get the wood fire operational before winter sets in . Nothing is straightforward. To be continued ……and it arrived …. 16000 litres … liquid gold!!!!!