If you're like many other folks who are learning to live on Catchment for the first time you probably have a lot of questions on how to approach this new responsibility. You are not alone. There are tens of thousands of new home owners here on the Big Island that are presented with the opportunity to care for their own water supply. There are some very important aspects to caring for your own water supply that can directly affect you and your family's health.
AB Pacific understands that you may be to busy to maintain your own Catchment water. So, we offer a bi-monthly program to ensure that your tank stays clear and sparkling! Our maintenance program also keeps track of the water level for you and or your renters. Our program costs $45 - $65 per month depending on where you live in Ocean View.
Another excellent resource for Catchment Systems is the "Guidelines on Rainwater Catchment Systems for Hawaii" by Patricia Macomber from the University of Hawaii. Click the image at left to download the guide.
Want to drink your Catchment Tank water? NO PROBLEM! Have one of our skilled technicians install a Home Ultra violate System so that you can eliminate the concern of drinking your water. It's there, so why waste it!!??
What We Look For
First, it is important to decide if you plan to, or are currently, drinking your water. This will affect how we treat your catchment system. Poorly maintained water can cause Leptospirosis and Giardia, very serious illnesses as well as an unpleasant odor, and skin rashes. Most people think that if there is no debris that can be seen on the bottom of the tank the water is clean. This is not the case. If fact, it is ok to have a certain amount of material on the bottom. In most cases your water intake is set off the bottom so that the pump does not draw that material into the system. However, there will always be a certain amount of suspended material in your water that will pass through your pump. This is where your filtration system comes in.
Ideally you should have both sediment and charcoal filters. The sediment filter catches large debris suspended in your tank while the CHARCOAL filter catches fine material, along with tastes, odor and chlorine. At the very least however, you should filter the sediment for your system even if you are not drinking the water!
We would also like to help educate you in why it is very important to maintain the PH and Chlorine levels in your tank. Without proper chlorine distribution and ratios, ALGAE BLOOMS will occur. Algae are those tiny plants that can be green, yellow, red or brown and found growing in your tank. They are often covered in a "slime layer" that is a hiding place for bacteria. Leptospirosis is a much more serious concern that EVERYONE needs to be aware of. It is carried by rats in their urine and can be life threatening. Rats can climb up to the top of your tank for a drink and foul your water with their waste or simply by falling in and drowning. The best way to keep rats off your tank is to trim away overhanging branches or lattice work from your home
PH Levels
Our bodies have a natural Ph level of approximately 7.2 ~ 7.6. The rain that we catch is completely acidic and will drop the Ph of your water to zero. A maintenance program will correct this andl help improve the longevity of your pumping equipment. Moreover, your water will taste fresher! Additionally, proper Ph will help keep your copper pipes from "leaching", (corroding) Over time this appears as a bluish green stain on your porcelain. Keeping your PH at a proper level is certainly one of the most important aspects of catchment care. With county water these issues are managed for us. Now this care is under your management.
Maintenance Concerns?
As with any household equipment, there will come a time when your catchment system will require maintenance. We can take care of those concerns for you. We are able to vacuum your tank, install pumps, covers, and cover supports to keep your tank cover from becoming a bird bath. We can repair catchment systems, install and or repair the PVC lines for your catchment tank. Most importantly though...
