Manicou River Eco Resort: Rainwater harvesting without electricity.

Manicou River Eco Resort: Rainwater harvesting without electricity.

Many on Dominica collect (harvest as it is known) rainwater from their roofs for Eco reasons or just to keep costs down and utilise a free resource.

The problem with rainwater harvesting is that the barrels may well be full and delicious water is at hand … but how to use that water within a house system?

<;p>Now if we want to have that water flow from the taps and into showers, bathrooms etc we will need to buy and upkeep pumps to move that water around. But wait, doesn’t that defeat the whole Eco exercise? Yes, so what can be done?

The answer lies within Dominica’s steep hillsides. Basically at the resort we start with a roof, built at least 15 feet above the target house, that is big enough to catch and fill 2 400 gallon tanks (expand to 4 tanks if a whole house), then we feed those tanks with 1 1/2″ pipes to the next building that is lower on the hill. Those very buildings then catch the same amount for the next building and so on. This gives great water pressure and removes the whole need for water pumps. The pipes are much cheaper than pumps and no electricity needed at all.

One of the first steps to proving an Eco resort on Dominica as true Eco is that the resort collects and uses rainwater in showers and toilets.

If you doubt the process you are welcome to take the Manicou River Eco Lodges & Resort shower challenge. If the pressure is not enough for even the most demanding of showergoers … well, you will receive one of our organic mangos free.