with all the rain we get during the summer months, surely they can use some of that.

True, I'll have to think more about that one. But, those stats have already been figured with the rest of our data.

My mother, who lived in Bermuda for a while, says that in that country all of the roofs are painted with a special white paint and they have sort of "rippled" surfaces. The rain runs down them, gets purified by this special surface, and then goes into rainwater tanks.

In a similar vein, I think we should promote more use of solar energy (from panels in roofs). Also, I don't know if I've mentioned this before in Bahamas Issues, but I believe in Brazil they get a lot of their household energy from "gases" emitted from their garbage dumps.

And - VERY IMPORTANT! - we need to start recycling before we get buried under our garbage!

Wow, thats very interesting. We will have to look more into what your mother has done. We are not really working on any other sort of pollutions/dumps...freshwater for now.

And - VERY IMPORTANT! - we need to start recycling before we get buried under our garbage!

I second that :tup:

My mother, who lived in Bermuda for a while, says that in that country all of the roofs are painted with a special white paint and they have sort of "rippled" surfaces. The rain runs down them, gets purified by this special surface, and then goes into rainwater tanks.

In a similar vein, I think we should promote more use of solar energy (from panels in roofs). Also, I don't know if I've mentioned this before in Bahamas Issues, but I believe in Brazil they get a lot of their household energy from "gases" emitted from their garbage dumps.

And - VERY IMPORTANT! - we need to start recycling before we get buried under our garbage!

i've heard all of this when my physics class visited a seminar at C.O.B on alternative sources of energy. i'm sure that government represenatives were present but i have yet to hear about any of the techniques discussed being planned to be put into action. too bad not that many students were as interested in the topic :(

What about rain water collection here in Nassau?

Come to think of it now Delroy, this could well be a good idea. Maybe we can require new buildings, even hotels, to build underground tanks for catching rain water. This water can be "cleaned up" and used for washing, bathing, etc. This could possibly ease the water shortage situation for a while until the country can afford to setup a proper desalination system! (I recall something like this either being discussed or required before (?) ).

I recall some years back, I got my hands really dirty doing some kind of mechanic work. I was at home and did not realise that Water Corp had turned off the water to do repairs. I had to wash up with bottled drinking water! I said to myself, "Never again, I can't afford this." I immediately got a barrel and installed a small gutter on my house to always have a supply of rain water, to be used for washing, etc.

Great Demos

Come to think of it now Delroy, this could well be a good idea. Maybe we can require new buildings, even hotels, to build underground tanks for catching rain water. This water can be "cleaned up" and used for washing, bathing, etc. This could possibly ease the water shortage situation for a while until the country can afford to setup a proper desalination system! (I recall something like this either being discussed or required before (?) ).

I recall some years back, I got my hands really dirty doing some kind of mechanic work. I was at home and did not realise that Water Corp had turned off the water to do repairs. I had to wash up with bottled drinking water! I said to myself, "Never again, I can't afford this." I immediately got a barrel and installed a small gutter on my house to always have a supply of rain water, to be used for washing, etc.

Great Demos

Another great idea Demos :tup:
I think that rain water even cleans better.

Come to think of it now Delroy, this could well be a good idea. Maybe we can require new buildings, even hotels, to build underground tanks for catching rain water.....Great Demos

That is what I do!
My house was built many, many years age when a rain water tank was the law (I think.)
My tank is underground and holds thousands of gallons. Once the tank is full, it lasts months! I seldom need to use city water.

That is what I do!
My house was built many, many years age when a rain water tank was the law (I think.)
My tank is underground and holds thousands of gallons. Once the tank is full, it lasts months! I seldom need to use city water.

CG, I think makes great sense. And if the water situation is as bad as Duke is saying, then I believe the government had better strongly consider rainwater catchment.

.....if the water situation is as bad as Duke is saying, then I believe the government had better strongly consider rainwater catchment.

I think they must! Catchments are the way to go. We are blessed with a lot of rain here. 90% of it runs off into the sea, ultimately. If each house holder could save some of that, even if it was only 20%, there would be less strain on the public water supply. Government could even help people who install catchments by giving them a tax break somewhere, i.e. Land Tax, or reduced import duties on the materials to build a catchment.

This is a bit off the point, but it is related to water. Government could save another precious resource, one that we import, and that is oil to run the electricity. They could save it by requiring SolarWater Heaters be installed on new houses. I save $30.00 or so a month because my hot water comes from the Sun's energy, not B.E.C's, Multiply that the thousands of homes that could have solar heating and there is a big savings in money going out of the country to buy oil!

I just read the following article. It really drives home the point of how serious the water shortage situation is world wide.

I just hope someone from our government reads these threads. If I were the Prime Minister, after reading this article I would begin putting something in place TONIGHT to help ensure that we always have a good supply of fresh drinking water in the Bahamas!

Who knows -- if done properly and with much forethought, we can probably supply water to other countries.

Great Demos


http://www.brudirect.com/DailyInfo/News/Archive/Mar04/230304/bb21.htm

I really appreciate all of your feedback all, thanks!