Storage Tanks
After several setbacks from incorrect equipment and bad weather, Boxes in Fields finally has WiFi. Now that I know what the WiFi connection looks like, I am realizing even more residents and businesses of this fine county have WiFi service from this local mom and pop provider. It saddens my heart even more about the level of services unavailable in these great states.
Since finding out last weekend about our source of free water it has been very busy here at Boxes in Fields. VERY BUSY. There were phone calls to make, internet searches to scour through, and decisions to make. All of which needed to be done post haste. The Planner, as his name suggests, likes to plan things thoroughly. While normally this produces great results because all angles, pro/cons, and alternatives have been discussed, this process can take weeks. Weeks, as in three or four and sometimes even five. There were not weeks to be had. Once the decision was made to be allowed access to the water, the collection process needed to start quickly. Being a glass is half empty, a full fledged pessimist, or if it is too good to be true kinda person, the Planner was worried the gift was to be removed if we waited to long. Gifts with a expiration date are really not gifts at all. Nothing worse than going to get a chunk of hard salami and cheese from the holiday gift set box and discover the meat had gone rancid. Ugh.
Luckily, water collection tanks are something the Planner has had years of experience with. There was the farmer he worked with for many years ago who had several tanks of different varieties and sizes. Then there was the massive collection tank at the Doubter’s home. This tank was ridiculous is size. It came cheaply, as in free, because it had a hole the size of a large man in the fiberglass wall. But once repaired from the inside out, it worked well. Seriously, it was so tall, two or three people could have stood head to toe and still not reached the top. Knowing how the Planner wanted the tanks to work it was a matter of determining how big of a tank was needed and where to purchase. Of course, more in always better and more is always more money. However, water is more precious than gold, so a bigger tank was purchased. Actually, two smaller 3000 gallon tanks were purchased. The plan is, once both tanks are filled, to use the water from one tank completely and before switching to the second tank. If designed correctly, there should always be around 2000 gallons of water in storage.
As if there is nothing else going on, the Kid and the Planner left mid week to big city #1 to pick up the tanks. When arrived they were allowed to tour inside the facility. Sometimes having a kid has its pay off. Did you notice we still have no freaking cell service during the middle of the night? Yes, my alarm says “Ugh work”. It is a long story and has nothing to do with my current job. Yes, the alarm title could be changed but this has become a daily reminder on how good life is right now. If things get stressful and are decisions become unsure all I have to do is remember where I was August of 2014 when this alarm title was created.
Being the boys left at the crack of dark, they were there and back before I even got home. And since the tank place was literally a half mile a way, they ate at my favorite Mexican food restaurant. Damn, the luck. Sometimes having the paying job is no fun at all. Sure, it allows us to work on Boxes in Fields but it does not allow for me to eat yummy cheese enchies or the best greasy cheese burger for lunch mid week. Bummer.
Before installation, the area the tanks will be stored had to cleaned, leveled, and prepared. Getting the tanks on the trailer took two men. Getting the tanks off the trailer could have used three or four men. Pushing and grunting, shoving and muttering explicits, the tanks were unloaded and slide into place.
Now the fun begins on designing the water management system. It is a good thing the Planner likes to think because planning this will take some creative thinking as the system will be complex. The system has to be able to 1) transfer water from the IBC tote on the truck to the IBC tote where the daily water allotment will be stored, 2) transfer from the IBC tote on the truck to the storage tanks, and 3) have the ability to transfer back and forth across each of three storage locations. The purpose being the daily IBC tote is the only water being used therefore a garden hose gets left on or a water line breaks, the only water loss will be the daily water tote. There is rate of flow, water pressure, pumps, valves, and so many other components to consider. Nothing about this management system will be as simple as turning a valve on and off.
Like I said, it is good thing the Planner enjoys thinking. Not me, thinking makes my brain hurt. Just after moving these tanks into place I was so tired I found this sticker just absolutely funny. What else are you supposed to do with a water storage tank? Cut the top off and go swimming? Hey, that is not a bad idea. These tanks are cheaper than installing a pool and are lots deeper. Like we have water for a swimming pool. See what thinking gets me. Anyhoo, back to work. The platform for the management system still needs to be built. And let me tell you now, the ideas for this platform must have come from the designers of Noah’s Ark. The preliminary designs are showing it will be stout. Very stout. Just you wait and see.