BajaNomad - NoWater in Mulege??

Sir Charles

I dunno .... but, as a Mulege fan, I am curious as to what their water source is.

Hope your winter is going well. :coolup:

There are several wells supporting the Mulege water supply. One down the ice house road then left at the welding guy. They have a new well supplying the new settlement down the carretera southbound. and the line extension goes back along the cerretera towards El Cacheno. One pump they put right into the river a distance upriver. (Donno if SAPA is still doing that)
But SAPA has enough income to pay CFE. So I am wondering if that is the real reason. I doubt it. This happened before and it was said CFE had cut of the power. Wasn`t true.

motoged - 2-5-2021 at 03:51 PM

Thanks.

I figured it was river source west of town. The river seems to peter out pretty quickly in the palm groves west of the mission....is there a significant water table there and westwards? Is there any water treatment or is it just pumped from well to pipes?

I have ridden the Raymundo Wash route to the Pacific a dozen times over the years.... and there are dam remnants along the way....and flooded/eroded by those horrendous tropical storms. I have seen flotsam as high as 15 feet in tree tops at the height of land/divide.... never mind the evidence in lower locations. It would be an epic experience to be in a safe spot and witness that level of nature at work.

[Edited on 2-5-2021 by motoged]

JC43 - 2-5-2021 at 05:07 PM

Thanks.

I figured it was river source west of town. The river seems to peter out pretty quickly in the palm groves west of the mission....is there a significant water table there and westwards? Is there any water treatment or is it just pumped from well to pipes?

I have ridden the Raymundo Wash route to the Pacific a dozen times over the years.... and there are dam remnants along the way....and flooded/eroded by those horrendous tropical storms. I have seen flotsam as high as 15 feet in tree tops at the height of land/divide.... never mind the evidence in lower locations. It would be an epic experience to be in a safe spot and witness that level of nature at work.

[Edited on 2-5-2021 by motoged]

Well, not quite correct. The river has always water. The source is never dry. O.K., eastbound the palms are certainly taking whatever they need. But that is not an issue talking the water supply for Mulege. As along town, SAPA is not taking river water for supply. The water situation in Mulege is great. Under normal circumstances there is plenty of water available. Other towns like i.e. Loreto where there is a constant supply problem -- Mulege can supply water to other towns. In summer you can see water trucks coming to Mulege and getting water for their settlement or hometown.
So peter out??? NO!
And this is why I do not believe this story about CFE cut of the power for the pumps. SAPA is charging serious money at the well. Especially if it is a commercial truck - which all of them are. Good so. The water is sold i.e. to Posada or Loreto. Why not charging a good price? I know that even in summer people in Mulege have a sufficient water. supply. Yes, the water is treated. At least at the well down ice house road. You can see it! What treatment SAPA is using? No idea. But they do. BTW in case a hurricane is on the horizon, all pumps are cut off. As long as the water is not crystal clear. I drove w/ my friends many times westwards towards the source. We filled up our water cans and we always drank the water. Upstream it taste sweet like good water should. No different as in the US when you go upstream where no chemical plant or something like that can spoil the water. And for sure there is not a single plant west of Mulege.

Bob and Susan - 2-5-2021 at 05:27 PM

geezz
you'd think people would know their water source...

mulege has 2 wells with two 440volt pumps for residental and commercial use

there is not enough "head pressure" to supply the entire town at one time so some neighborhoods get water every other day

residents use tanks to store water for the "off days"

there are a few cement tanks on the hills to assist water storage and pressure

there are a few private wells for agriculture use but is is illegal to use that water for residential use

currently the water is not treated but clean and clear at the pump
the only time it may get cloudy is after a rain or if someone over greases the pump bearings

the river everone sees is an estuary...part salt water part fresh

the "real" river is underground

sapas website on facebook says they are having problems paying CFE

JC43 - 2-5-2021 at 05:50 PM

Bob and Susan, that is correct somehow. The river is very visible if you drive upstream towards the divide. But downhill it is underground, correct. It`s a long and rough/rocky way up there towards the source. What`s correct, yes in the outskirts of Mulege SAPA is only pumping every second day. But with a cistern underground or a pillar (water tank) on the roof it is not a problem at all. You can see pillars all over Mexico. Down here in Cabo most homes have two or three pillars on the roof. Securing tomorrow they call it. In Mulege only inside town SAPA is delivering water every day. And only if the supply chain is connected to the well down ice house road. Do you know if the pump they used to set into the river is still in use?

tiotomasbcs - 2-5-2021 at 06:09 PM

Pilas...water storage tanks. I have three here in Pescadero and our water service is good most of the time. But...when you need it you better have backup!...just like with CFE and generator backup for A/C in summer. It's Mexico..BCS!

motoged - 2-5-2021 at 06:31 PM

Quote: Originally posted by Bob and Susan

.... the river everone sees is an estuary...part salt water part fresh....the "real" river is underground...

That was my impression...

I have never tried to go to a source point for the river.....but have seen isolated pockets of water of varying depths west of town ....depending on season, etc.

I have only explored that area in months between October and March.

JC43 - 2-5-2021 at 09:39 PM

As this happens every year I have the dull feeling that SAPA is preparing the folks for an increase in payments. They certainly have enough money to pay CFE. BUT: There are also a lot of homes in Mulege having illegal water lines SAPA doesn`t know about. (Mexicans do have steeling in their genes) The former physician in Mulege Dr. Daniel Hector de Solis Silva once said: The worst enemy of a Mexican is the next Mexican.
It is a shame that SAPA is not capable to send two employees from door to door checking if or not there is water supply line to that specific house and comparing that to their documents. If it is paid for or not. Then they would fast enough learn how to make money the appropriate way. Instead of increasing the monthly payment for those who are honest and paying.

vandy - 2-6-2021 at 03:22 AM

"pillar"="pila".
Also the same word for "battery" and pronounced "pee'-lah"

I'm reminded of an ad on Craigslist Rhode Island that said they had an "amwa" in good shape.
Now, the New England accent pronounces that "ah-mwah".
I had to look at the picture to see an "armoire".

Bob and Susan - 2-6-2021 at 09:14 AM

here in mulege they call a black tank a pila
its normal street talk

David K - 2-6-2021 at 09:46 AM

Pila is the word used by the homeowners with one on top of their homes, south of San Felipe!

'Pila' is also applied to small reservoirs made for the missions and visitas of Baja by area ranchers/ farmers.

pacificobob - 2-6-2021 at 10:06 AM

pillar (water tank) on the roof

"pillar"?

What language is that? I've never heard the term. :?:

i believe pillar is a woman's name

HeyMulegeScott - 2-6-2021 at 10:19 AM

English translation from La Voz del Pacífico 91.3 FM Facebook page -

CFE cuts electric light to water wells in Mulege; Oomsapas reconnects without authorization
Warrior black, Baja California Sur (BCS).- On Wednesday, February 3, 2021, the Federal Electricity Commission (CFE) suspended power supply to 3 water extraction wells from the Palo Aqueduct Green, 2 in the Heroic Mulegé and also in the Vizcaino Valley.
The above, due to the debit that the Municipal Operating Agency of the Mulegé Water, Sewerage and Sanitation Service (Oomsapas) has with the parastatal.
In an unreleased event, the Mollegian city council instead of approaching negotiation or covering the full debit, reconnected without prior permission from the CFE sending municipal police elements to harass and prevent doing their job to employees of the power generating company.
It is not the first time that for the same reasons the CFE takes these kinds of actions: it is registered from June 17 and December 21, 2020, the first time was due to a debit of 5 millions of pesos, however, neither in December nor now in February 2021, the Operating Agency has informed citizenship about the total amount of debits.
Oomsapas Mulegé has repeatedly published newsletters on its official networks seeking to exempt their responsibility with a speech that blames the deadly users and presents the CFE as indolent and unacceptable.
Efrain Patiño Estrada

David K - 2-6-2021 at 10:55 AM

Pilar:
The official name of the 1720-1748 mission at La Paz is
Nuestra Señora del Pilar de la Paz Airapí

In 1748, the mission moved to Todos Santos, where the Airapí was dropped from the official name. In 1825, it moved again about a mile south. It operated as a mission to about 1840 then continued as a parish church.

It made for an interesting story...

https://www.bajabound.com/bajaadventures/bajatravel/la_paz_m...

AKgringo - 2-6-2021 at 11:21 AM

Quote: Originally posted by HeyMulegeScott

English translation from La Voz del Pacífico 91.3 FM Facebook page -

Warrior black, Baja California Sur (BCS).

Palo Aqueduct Green

Mollegian city council

with a speech that blames the deadly users and presents the CFE as indolent and unacceptable.

Was this Google Translate? And to think I've been telling people how much it's improved lately.... :lol:

Deadly users? They must mean terminal, as in end user, but that is just my guess!

Sometimes when place names get translated it can be amusing, as well as confusing. An article I read about Pemex stations talked about Peace (La Paz), and Fishmonger (Pescadero)!

AKgringo - 2-6-2021 at 11:57 AM

That makes more sense than my guess! Those customers with a tinaca/pila/pillar on their roof wouldn't really care how long it took to re-fill as long as they had gravity feed water pressure.

HeyMulegeScott - 2-6-2021 at 12:07 PM

Quote: Originally posted by HeyMulegeScott

Was this Google Translate? And to think I've been telling people how much it's improved lately.... :lol:

Ha. Yeah. Whatever Facebook uses. It's some funny stuff sometimes. I wonder if the English to Spanish translation is as jacked up.

motoged - 2-6-2021 at 12:23 PM

Just imagine how some of our Spanglish sounds to locals .... :biggrin:

chuckie - 2-6-2021 at 01:18 PM

Hey!Ged! I am doing pretty well, hope you are as well? When I moved out of the river bottom up to Loma Azul I put two of them there black Pilas,pilars,tinacas , containers , whatever the resident experts want to call them up high for reserve water supply. this was Mexico...You WILL not have water at times. I also bought another fridge to keep full of pacifico for when the"fail safe"failed. Caca occurs.I have read this thread a couple of times and somewhere amidst the verbiage there is likely some fact? Your guess is as good as any ones! Keep well....

motoged - 2-6-2021 at 09:12 PM

Anybody have pics/vid/ links of how they set up toilet float system for knowing how full/empty tank is? Some time ago someone said they had done it.

mtgoat666 - 2-6-2021 at 10:21 PM

Anybody have pics/vid/ links of how they set up toilet float system for knowing how full/empty tank is? Some time ago someone said they had done it.

2 pullies, 1 line, one float, one weight, one bracket, and bob's your uncle.

[Edited on 2-7-2021 by BajaNomad]

Bob and Susan - 2-7-2021 at 06:25 AM

thats NOT it...they sell the correct part at the hardware store...its about 5 bucks

Bob and Susan - 2-7-2021 at 06:27 AM

oh yea water is on again...no shortage of water

pacificobob - 2-7-2021 at 07:14 AM

nice illustration goat. you must me a CAD user.
not sure what bob is referring to with his $5 buck solution. other than helpfully pointing out your solution was woefullywrong. maybe he just enjoys urinating on people's cornflakes.

[Edited on 2-7-2021 by pacificobob]

mtgoat666 - 2-7-2021 at 07:27 AM

Quote: Originally posted by pacificobob

nice illustration goat. you must me a CAD user.
not sure what bob is referring to with his $5 buck solution. other than helpfully pointing out your solution was woefullywrong. maybe he just enjoys urinating on people's cornflakes.

[Edited on 2-7-2021 by pacificobob]

That’s just a dwg I found on the web.

Susan may be right that you can find a similar level gauge in hardware stores, but susan also cannot/has not provided any info on what is for sale at Susan’s local hardware store.
There are many varieties of tank level indicators, but I suspect in rural baja there may be just one common one that people use (they all seem to use one brand or shape of tanks, so not unexpected that they only use one gauge, and therefore makes sense why susan is only familiar with one gauge)

It is possible that susan was referring to a float-actuated valve. But the original question was about a level indicator (level gauge).

[Edited on 2-7-2021 by mtgoat666]

msteve1014 - 2-7-2021 at 08:19 AM

Bob is talking about a float valve, not a gauge. same type of fill valve in an older toilet. you dont need a gauge, its automatic. and $5 is about right.

pacificobob - 2-7-2021 at 08:48 AM

every tank i have bought here, all 17, have come with float valves. i have at least a dozen extras in the bodega.

the float valve and a quantity guage preform widely different functions.

[Edited on 2-7-2021 by pacificobob]

Bob and Susan - 2-7-2021 at 10:09 AM

an installed float valve

DSC00566.JPG - 147kB

msteve1014 - 2-7-2021 at 10:35 AM

Oh yes, the water supply in La Bocana can not be faulted. Ask Blanca, you have never heard her complain about it, have you?

I tap on the side of my tank once in a while, that is all the gauge I have ever needed. :light:

JC43 - 2-7-2021 at 10:48 AM

Quote: Originally posted by Bob and Susan

oh yea water is on again...no shortage of water

In Baja there are certainly more than the 7 world wonders in existence::: How come that SAPA (the water company) which did not pay CFE (the power company) can pay CFE on a Sunday to get power running??? I am guessing that SAPA did not went to an OXXO store paying cash!
Well, Baja wonders! :?:

motoged - 2-7-2021 at 10:53 AM

Thanks for the replies.....we seem to be getting closer to the answers I am hoping for.

Perhaps my original question could have been clearer:

"What kind of gizmo helps a person know how much water is in tinaco when the tinaco is too high for best ladder in town and the town water supply is totally unpredictable and frequently as bad as the town's internet ?"

Float system seems to help with allowing some degree of water in to tinaco, but won't accurately display volume of tinaco....?
I guess I am looking for a "level guage" more than just a float.

msteve1014 - 2-7-2021 at 11:05 AM

That would be called a sight glass

JC43 - 2-7-2021 at 11:26 AM

Quote: Originally posted by msteve1014

That would be called a sight glass

A sight glass is is perfect and easy!!!! You got to cut a new hole into the tenaco or pila or pillar. (let your best friend do it when tenaco is full) Then your best friend has to climb into the tenaco and hold the conter thread that you can put the thread on from the outside. Then you got to glue on a flexible hose pointing skywards on the thread. On the flexible hose you finally can glue your sight glass on. No big deal !!!! But don`t forget to purchase this oversized ladder as the tinaco is on the roof! But there is a more easy solution: You buy a camera. Install the camera next to the sight glass. (Screw the bracket for the camera into the tenaco!) And every evening when the sun is pointing directly into the sight glass you can watch the level on TV.
Better than NETFLIX movie. :light:

msteve1014 - 2-7-2021 at 12:14 PM

I did not recomend buying one, i do not think you will ever see one on a pila in baja. What do you think ged is looking for?

motoged - 2-7-2021 at 12:49 PM

Quote: Originally posted by msteve1014

I did not recomend buying one, i do not think you will ever see one on a pila in baja. What do you think ged is looking for?

Just want to know : What is simple visual system for determining how much water is in tinaco when not able to look in tinaco?

Bob and Susan - 2-7-2021 at 01:24 PM

the water guy showed me how he does it...just use a plastic tube from the bottom to the top...water fills the tube to the level of the water inside...nothing fancy

DSC00566.JPG - 147kB

Hook - 2-7-2021 at 01:28 PM

The whole description of the situation between SAPA and CFE sounds very familiar to the situation between CEA (our water company) and CFE. Lack of payment of electric bill.

Dont know about Baja but the heads of the water entities over here are political appointees who rarely know ANYTHING about running a water "company" (ours is actually a state agency, I believe). Almost no maintenance is done on the system and leaks are numerous. Plus, there are many, many illegal taps between neighbors.

Honestly, the water is absurdly cheap for being in a desert. I pay a flat 320 pesos per month for basically unlimited, unmetered water that arrives from a pipe in the street. Meters are becoming more common but there are still many households without them.

Most all of the Guaymas/San Carlos area is on scheduled days when water comes in to your particular area. So cisternas and tinacos are a must. Actually, so is a pressure pump system if you want pressure higher than about 20psi.

The water company has requested increases but politicians always shoot it down. So, the infrastructure stays leaky.

With all the leaks, it's probably a good thing that the water is off on a regular basis. Otherwise, it would be an uglier waste of water than it is.

chuckie - 2-7-2021 at 01:31 PM

GEEZO!Talk about over complicating stuff!! Tap on the side with a lil hammer....When it goes thump thump instead of boom boom, thats where the water line is....When no water comes out the bottom drain? Its empty.....Algae? Put a lil clorox in it once in a while...Ask your Mexican neighbor about this High Tech stuff...

JC43 - 2-7-2021 at 02:47 PM

Quote: Originally posted by Bob and Susan

the water guy showed me how he does it...just use a plastic tube from the bottom to the top...water fills the tube to the level of the water inside...nothing fancy

I like my solution much more as it is highly sophisticated. Mainly the part with the camera and the bracket screwed onto the pillar. And you got to have a diver for holding the counter thread anyway!!! :lol:

mtgoat666 - 2-7-2021 at 04:45 PM

Quote: Originally posted by mtgoat666

Anybody have pics/vid/ links of how they set up toilet float system for knowing how full/empty tank is? Some time ago someone said they had done it.

2 pullies, 1 line, one float, one weight, one bracket, and bob's your uncle.

[Edited on 2-7-2021 by BajaNomad]

This will tell water level in tank. The equation for volume of cylinder will can you how many gallons per inch of tank height. Use a sharpie to write gallon scale on side of tank.
You can engineer this yourself, or buy a kit.

motoged - 2-8-2021 at 10:41 AM

I think the Goat has the best response.

Now, all I need is to instal a tinaco in the front yard....just to keep the Baja vibe going up here in the frozen wastelands... and to confuse the neighbours.

AKgringo - 2-8-2021 at 11:02 AM

They are very popular around my part of California as well. Local cannabIs growers would rather do that than drill a well, or get caught stealing water they have no rights to. Kind of a flashback to the mining days!

And no, I will not be bringing any samples of the local product to anyone!

motoged - 2-8-2021 at 11:26 AM

Bogart :biggrin:

BajaTed - 2-8-2021 at 02:15 PM

Water tank day from Muzik Mountain Canyon (above Burro) to the Mulege tank fill up was a daylong adventure every time. A hot shower after 3 days of Baby Wipes felt awesome.

JC43 - 2-8-2021 at 03:21 PM

Quote: Originally posted by BajaTed

Water tank day from Muzik Mountain Canyon (above Burro) to the Mulege tank fill up was a daylong adventure every time. A hot shower after 3 days of Baby Wipes felt awesome.

What exactly is it that you want to say?? Can you please translate your thoughts into proper language - preferable "Oxford English". 1. What does Babe Wipes has to do with the Mulege Water tank?
2. Is there a water supply line from Burro to Mulege??
3. Is that you who has to control the valve at Burro???
4. If there is a waterline from Burro to Mulege, but no chance at all to catch some drops for the sweat????
5. What has the SAPA supply cut off to do with what you are posting?????

JC43 - 2-8-2021 at 06:22 PM

Can you please translate your thoughts into proper language - preferable "Oxford English". 1. What does Babe Wipes has to do with the Mulege Water tank?

Doctor, heal thyself. :lol:

Oh YES: I normally can tell how stupid one is by reading his posts!
O.k., I do speak 4 languages more or less good. (nobody is perfect)
English is not my native language!
How many languages do you speak?? More than one?
:lol:

msteve1014 - 2-9-2021 at 07:07 AM

Now, all I need is to instal a tinaco in the front yard....just to keep the Baja vibe going up here in the frozen wastelands... and to confuse the neighbours.

next week you will ask how people in Baja keep the water from freezing in the tank

pacificobob - 2-9-2021 at 07:12 AM

Can you please translate your thoughts into proper language - preferable "Oxford English". 1. What does Babe Wipes has to do with the Mulege Water tank?

Doctor, heal thyself. :lol:

😅🤣😂

BajaTed - 2-9-2021 at 12:41 PM

Quote: Originally posted by pacificobob