BajaNomad

Water system designs...?

djh - 2-9-2006 at 08:15 AM

Hola Nomads,

I have a 27' T.Trailer. I'd like to improve my water availibility (low pressure - sometimes none... with direct connect to Loreto's municipal system).

Anyone have a recommendation for a good resource for designing a simple system??

I also need to study and learn about the common elevated or burried tank systems for when I build a casa.

Thanks for any tips!
djh

Bob and Susan - 2-9-2006 at 09:09 AM

I would "hook up" ASAP
Water is sooo IMPORTANT.

We put plastic tanks underground. Each tank is 700 gallons.
A 3/4 HP pressure pump pumps the water easily.

I kind'a like the tanks that are in the air on pedestals but I'm the only one on my team (ie SUSAN) that does. Now they're underground.

For low pressure I would put them under ground. Sometimes the water has a hard time climbing to the top of the tanks.

Don Alley - 2-9-2006 at 09:37 AM

Ours is pretty simple. We have a 1000 liter tank on a slab, in a corner with a cardon wood screen around it. Water from the tank goes to a Jacuzzi pump, to a pressure tank, to the outlets. The pump and pressure tank combo came from the plumbing place on Madero near the Isste store.

Cons: When the power goes off, you have water only until the pressure tank loses pressure. Also, if the 1000 liter tank runs dry (from watering when the city water is off) you have to get a wrench out to prime the pump.

So I may modify mine to have a bypass of the pump and pressure tank, and additional outlets of unpressurized city water for watering.

I don't know how much pressure you can get from an elevated tank vs. a pump, but esthetics can be an issue with an elevated tank. Also on slow water days, I wonder if there is enough presure to fill an elevated tank.

Thanks!

djh - 2-9-2006 at 09:26 PM

Thanks, Don, and Bob and Susan.

I'll get working on it soon. I may do an at-grade (on the ground) tank and pump for now, since I'll eventually move my Travel Trailer when I build a house.... We'll want to make sure we position a more permanent storage and pump system correctly the first time for the permanent house.

I may pick your thoughts a bit more about a shut off valve / system for the tank (preventing overfilling / waste) and the finer system and installation points one day soon.

Thanks for the help and photo!
djh

MICK - 2-10-2006 at 08:01 AM

Make sure your tank is covered. We have a pila. A concrete tank underground with a pump and presure tank. it works great. I have friends who have an elivated tank it's great until its 110 % then the water gets so hot it's hard to shower in. I would think at grade would be ok if you kept it covered but underground is the best insulator.
Good luck
MICK

Bob and Susan - 2-10-2006 at 08:20 AM

...even underground it still gets hot:P

I like an elevated tank

Bruce R Leech - 2-10-2006 at 08:00 PM

I like an elevated tank the higher the better. like lencho says you get about .43 psi per foot use your pump to get the water up there. then you don't need a pump to get it down every time you need a cup of water.

I have 2 tanks one for purified water the other for tap water.



[Edited on 2-11-2006 by Bruce R Leech]

thanks!

djh - 2-12-2006 at 08:57 AM

Thanks again for the helpful thoughts. I love the Baja Nomads site, and the general helpfulness of this good community of folks!

I will plan to cover my initial (temporary) tank for shade!

BTW, I am already hooked up - just looking at a bit more pressure for my travel trailer, which is mi casa until we build.

Hugo, the Jefe at Sapal (water dept.) in Loreto, is sure a nice fellow. He was great in helping me get a new acct. established promptly.

Bob and Susan - 2-12-2006 at 09:29 AM

I just got this as a back-up pump...

$59 on sale at harbor freight...then I got another 20% off witha coupon from the email.:biggrin:

Bob and Susan - 2-12-2006 at 09:30 AM

another shot of the 3/4 hp pump

Below Grade Tanks- Bob and Susan?

Denver - 2-18-2006 at 05:34 AM

Bob and Susan,

In your photo it shows 3 tanks in a CMU "vault." Why do you need the CMU? Couldn't you just backfill the hole with sand?

Thanks,

Scott

Bob and Susan - 2-18-2006 at 06:17 AM

We're at sea level...sometimes the ground water seeps up.
I'm afraid if you back fill full tanks you'd be ok if they were full...but empty they''d crush.

They're made of flimsy plastic.

Also how would you repair them later?
Everything breaks:saint:

This is the style I've seen in La Paz with city water. We copied.

Thank you

Denver - 2-27-2006 at 05:25 AM

Bob and Susan,

Thanks for your reply on the tanks.

Denver

Diver - 2-27-2006 at 07:21 AM

For temporary use with only the camper to supply, go cheap.
Try a 50 gallon blue plastic drum. You can drill a hole in the top to allow a hose fitting to self thread then hook up the hose from the city. 50 gallons should last more than 1 day so you can manually fill the tank when you need it.
Drill another hole to allow a 1/2 inch pvc pipe to lower to within 6 inches of the bottom of the drum. Mount your small pump anywhere in-line to the trailer or inside the trailer. If you let the pipe/hose to the trailer drop in elevation before going back up into the trailer, you won't even need a self priming pump.