The Water Cycle
Water does not remain in one place for long. It continuously moves across strata. In a simple explanation, the water present in the oceans and seas evaporates into the atmosphere. Condensation then takes place and this is followed by precipitation in the form of snow (which melts into water) or rainfall. The water is then absorbed by the soil and percolates down various layers until it reaches underground streams which flow into the ocean.
If the water is too much for the soil to be absorbed, it flows on top of the soil (depending on its volume, it can be a stream or a river) until it reaches the sea. Sometimes, multiple streams join up to form a river. Rivers also tend to do this before flowing out into the sea, from where the cycle repeats itself.
Water Sources and Private Water Systems
97% of all water lies underground. Only three percent manifests itself in the form of lakes, streams, ponds, and rivers, which are collectively referred to as surface water. Every private water system needs to have a source, and this can be either groundwater or surface water. Surface water is more prone to contamination and often more acidic than groundwater. Ideally, it should be used only when there are no known sources of groundwater present, otherwise it should be restricted to watering crops and other uses that do not entail human consumption.
If groundwater is opted as the primary source for a private water system, it should be seen to that the source is stable or in other words, the water supply should be constant and not dry up over time. This requires careful planning and an examination of the groundwater table before a well is sunk. There are also different types of wells, and the right kind should be selected depending on present and estimated future needs.
Septic Water Systems
Do’s
- Learn the location of your septic system: Ensure that vehicles are not parked over it. No construction activity should take place above it, and see to it that there are no plants or trees on the topsoil (their roots could cause damage). Ideally, there needs to be grass at the top, but without any automatic lawn water sprinklers present.
- Periodic maintenance: Get your septic system inspected regularly. Ideally, a septic tank needs to be pumped once every three to five years. But inspections may show that you need to do it sooner than the next scheduled date, as solid wastes could have contributed to clogging the system. Maintain a record of all work done to your septic system and everything should be done only by a licensed professional.
- Conserve water: This can help prevent the system from becoming overloaded. Check for leaky faucets and also see if water leaks from the toilet’s flush tank into the bowl (you can add liquid food color into the reservoir before going to bed and check the bowl for presence of the same color in the morning). Get them fixed if necessary and select the right load setting when using washing machines.
Don’ts
- Solid wastes: Cigarette butts, diapers, coffee grounds, condoms, tampons, and cooking grease should never be disposed of down the drain. These can clog your pipes.
- Liquid wastes: Paint thinners, latex paint, and household chemicals like bleach can destroy the microbes present in the septic system. This means that wastes are not treated efficiently and the tank fills up faster. Adding chlorine to your water results in the same effect.
- Additives: Although advertised as helpful in decomposing wastes faster, they usually only end up achieving the opposite, as they also destroy the bacteria in the septic tank that breaks down biodegradable waste.
- Building additions without expanding septic tank capacity: If anything adds more than 15% to the floor area or increases the amount of plumbing, specifically with regard to the number of fixtures, your septic system could find itself handling more than what it is capable of. This can only lead to its eventual collapse, something that you most definitely don’t want.