Our Water Supply

For those of you that don't know - we get our water from a catchment tank (it's the equivalant to a mainland cistern). Rainwater gets collected in a tank that holds about 5200 gal of water. Since we get 60+ inches of rain a year this size tank should be fine at most times of the year. (July/Aug might be a little sketchy.)

Matiu backplastering the k-11

We wont go into the politics of Kapoho Vacationland and the KKWA (Water association down here) but suffice it to say that a few days before the wedding we lost our other water source although we knew it was coming. Robert and the guys had been working on the existing catchment tank, refurbishing it and putting the k-11 on it.  Chris (my brother) helped Robert plumb the pressure tank and pump and within 3 days we were back in business. We now have a sustainable water system (as long as it rains, and if it doesn't we can order 4000 gals at a time!)

We filter it and it is probably way more drinkable than any city water. I usually have a load of clothes in the washer and as soon as it starts to rain, I turn the washer on and do laundry till it stops raining. You do have to think about adjusting your usage - unless you are from the desert and used to being spare with water!

Overall the project has cost us about $1500 - and we still have about $400 to spend on the UV filter. After about 50 months (4 yrs), our water will be free from there on! (Water from the KKWA runs about $60-90 per month.) We did weigh the option of having a well dug but we are too close to sea level to not be inundated by salt water.

This is the tank filling up from rainwater. We have two sides of roofs draining into it right now and we are adding a third today!

Cooking and Construction - Part 1 of a Series 9-14-09

So you have decided to build your dream home! In addition, because you are a foodie, your kitchen is going to be top notch and the best layed out room in the whole house. Cooking and construction go together more often than you think and I am not just talking about feeding your carpenters’ pupus on Friday afternoon while building the house!

You have all your cookbooks. You are excited about in a few months trying out your carefully culled recipes and maybe even thinking of your guest list for that first fabulous dinner party at your new home or even your remodeled new kitchen!

STOP. What are you cooking on? Oh, you are sure you are a gas cook top person. No doubt about it! Okay! Let me suggest a few things while your plumber and electrician are submitting their bids!

Plan for dual fuel behind your stove. You are already picking out the perfect stove and cannot wait for it to be delivered and cook that first meal on it! The specs have the quantity of BTU’s needed. (The British thermal unit (BTU or Btu) is a traditional unit of energy. It is approximately the amount of energy needed to heat one pound of water one degree Fahrenheit.) Save that number. Now go on to the more mundane items – your dryer if gas, your water heater, whatever else is going to be gas! Do not forget to include the gas grill or BBQ you will be adding to your outdoor kitchen. Here we say BBQ, or if you are from the south, it is a grill (BBQ is a whole other thing in the south!)

Take all those numbers and now get your plumber to put in a line that will support the maximum number of BTU’s in relation to the farthest distance that gas will be traveling. Do not skimp. Typically at 80’, you will need a 1” ID line (not ID like your driver’s license – ID means inside diameter as opposed to OD or outside diameter. This can make a big difference in sizing but that is a whole other subject!)

Think of Christmas Eve – you are getting ready for a party – will all 4 burners on, and guests are using all 3 bathrooms to shower, and you decide to quick get those extra cloth napkins dried you left in the washer so you have enough…. In addition, your significant other is throwing the veggies on the outdoor grill. WHEW! It may not happen often that you max out but it is like insurance – what will you do if it is not there when you do need it? Hand your guests drink and tell them it is Puna no need shower. Use dirty dishtowels to dry the last four wineglasses that you need for the table? On the other hand, simmer that item that was supposed to be seared?

There are a number of good places on the internet to get the calculations but working with your plumber –do not let them say, “This is good enough”. The overall cost of a bigger line is so small that it makes no sense not to do the right thing.

This goes for the dual fuel – many times a gas cook top will come with an electric oven. You do not want to have to retrofit your kitchen for about $20 worth of planning.

Happy Cooking!

(to be published at LetseatHawaii.com a new foodie ezine specifically for Hawaii! )