Bonneville America Forums Forums Off Topic Discussion Forums Lounge Water.

I don't know about Canada, but I imagine that many in parts of the USA rainwater is a very scarse commodity.

Jo & I live in a small area called South Kolan in Southeast Queensland Australia which is classed as sub-tropical. We live on a small 5 acre property and our only sourse of water is what we collect in rainwater tanks from our roofs.

In July of this year we were down to 10000 litres (2500 US gallons) and thought we would have to buy water and have it delivered. With the amount of rain we have had in the past 8 weeks we have seen our tanks overflowing and running of into the paddocks. Bare in mind this was over our dry season.

We now have full tanks (80000 litres) and we are looking good for the next 4 to 5 months.

What the weather has in store for us over the wet season, who knows. There was a guy on TV predicting 5 to 6 cyclones.

Wow Frank, how differently we live throughout this world! Where I live we have the mighty Columbia River flowing through... a fresh and steady source of water year round. Meanwhile in and around here we have snow falling for half the year. You've had fun teasing us about our winters (and I've enjoyed all your kibitzing) but we consider our snow pack to be a life saving/supporting part of our ecosystem. It was a good winter if there was a lot of snow up in the mountains because it will feed the streams, rivers and lakes we depend on for water.

I once lived in Zimbabwe where water was scarce. I witnessed the end result of a 6 year drought and I'll tell you what... when it comes to living here with our snow melt and living water dashing and splashing down from the mountains above, I count my blessings everyday. Your story just reminded me how we have NOTHING to complain about here where I live. Please note that this is NOT how ALL of Canada is, but certainly where I live in the West we live in a constant state of abundance (touch wood).

PS... I really want to visit your home and I promise not to take too many showers!

Well Keith since you are comin all the way over to Oz, then you better come and visit me down on the NSW Central Coast as well. I promise you can shower every day Mate. I will put the billy on or crack a few cold ones.

we really don't think to much of it unless there is a flood or if you are a "dry land farmer" ....where I'm at in Eastern Oklahoma we have wells, lakes and rivers....the only time there might be a concern is when the temp hits 100+ for a month in late July & August and you can't keep enough water on your bermuda to keep it green...... really , we shouldn't complain... we got it pretty good in the ole H2O department.

Water is a precious commodity. Having our own well, we treat it with respect.

Due to a dry, hot summer, reservoirs here (NJ, USA) are lower than normal. I'm hoping for a wet winter to avoid drought conditions in 2011.

I live in eastern Ontario Canada and we are blessed with plenty of water. map

I have a quote on my office door to the effect, "Man, despite his many accomplishments, relies upon 6" of topsoil and the fact that it rains". A statement of humility. When folks ask me land stewardship, what to grow type questions, timely precipitation makes me look really smart.

On a side note, a co-worker of mine attended a (non-political) conference in Reno, NV a few years ago and a climatologist was making the case that the Western US may be entering a drier cycle. The point being if you live in an area with say 16"-18" average annual precipitation, the "new reality" might be a couple inches less. Doesn't sound like much, but has significant implications what crops are possible to grow, the types of natural vegetation that cover our landscapes, invasive plants better equipped to thrive under drought conditions.

On a side-side note, I have an ex-patriot, gonzo friend who moved to Australia 25 years ago, working for CSIRO. I should drop him an e mail

Being a very simple-minded country boy, I am still amazed that I work in an office

jh

Yep Soren, and down here in "Arid-zona" we often sing a little different tune than that, which might go somethin' like this ....

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jFBHc2qafgU

(...though tonight and tomorrow we're supposed to get some o' that wet stuff for the first time in months, and in fact up here in mile-high Prescott, maybe even our first snowfall of the winter!)

reading your posts shows me how easy we have it (water) in England,just turn on the tap and dont even think about it..on the other hand we really think at the petrol pumps!

Years ago (I don't remember which year) when the worlds fair was in New Orleans I was there on business and I spent a day at the fair. The theme for the fair was "Fresh Water of the World". Canada had a really nice pavilion, and they had a movie about Canada. I remembered two things from that movie. 1. Canada had 50% of the worlds fresh water running through it. 2. Every major city in Canada was built at the confluence of three rivers (due to the fur trade in the 1700's, and the only means of fast travel at that time was by water).

Tom

water is no issue at all here in Pennsyltucky.We water our gardens,wash our sidewalks,have water battles with the kids.I keep 3 fish tanks and a 2500 gal pond that all but the pond get 50% water changes weekly.Only a few months out of the year does it not rain twice a week.Lifes good if ya like it wet! And I do.

When it comes down here, this is what you can get.

We had to stay in the motel an extra night on a recent trip around Southeast Queensland.

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What you can see in the water are lumps of ice.

Over here in Wales we have too much of the wet stuff, stops me going out on the bike quite a bit. but shouldn't really complain when I see how other people manage on so little.

Here in the northeast US we fairly throw the stuff away - washing vehicles and watering lawns with clean drinking water. Tain't gonna be that way forever... SOmeday water is very likely to get very expensive wherever one lives.

Due to the ignorance of the voting majority in my sibling based family, we just sold a plot of land with a fresh & clean water mountain spring that runs 24/7/365 - droughts included, for $2K per acre.

Dumb as--e-