Willits Economic Localization/Water
From CFI
- GROUP CONTACTS
- Study Group Participants
- RESEARCH
- Research Questions
- SOURCES OF INFORMATION
- Resources, Contacts
- Projects, Organizations
- Books, Videos
- Web Sites
(Jason Bradford) Each person needs about 50,000 gallons of water per year to meet their food requirements (source, John Jeavons). Other needs are small relative to this one. When we import most of our food, we are indirectly importing water. We need to do some serious study on the water potential of our area and work on growing as many calories as possible during the wet season, such as winter grains, and using water efficient, deep-rooted plants, such as trees for food production on poorly arable land. Orchards anyone?
Information requirements Inventory and location of existing shallow wells in the Valley and how productive are they in gallons per minute?
What energy is used/needed to pump these?
Are there maps of the good water sources in the Valley or can they be created using current well system?
What are existing above ground reservoir capacities?
How best to boost infrastructure, more wells or above ground storage?
Questions generated in the 1/3/05 Water Committee Meeting:
- How much water per household is needed?
The committee requests that local citizens contribute their own water usage estimates to provide a locally relevant figure. What do you use?
- How can we store water?
Several methods of storage were listed; concrete, plastic, metal and redwood tanks and ponds (clay lined), lined depressions, with poly or cement linings. Dave Beebe is researching cement and metal tanks. Ree Slocum is researching the variety of clay deposits in the area and which are best for lining ponds.
- What risks of contamination of the water resource are extant?
There are many natural and introduced contaminants in the area. Among these are manganese, boron, arsenic, sulphur, iron, mercury, livestock, household chemicals, petroleum products, industrial wastes, agricultural wastes. Resources listed as potentially available for further study were the State Water Quality Control Board and the Remco Remediation Office.
- How can we remove organic and inorganic wastes from "waste water" returning it to usefulness?
Ed Burton told us of a project he has been working with for several years in which "waste water" is used as irrigation in the growing of potted redwood trees, within a greenhouse. The passing of the water through the trees results in transpiration of pure water into the atmosphere. His project includes efforts to recapture a portion of the water for use as potable water. Ed stated that the research is still incomplete and that further study is necessary.
- What and where are local hotspots of contamination, both natural and introduced?
- What are high priority short term storage options within the community?
- What are high priority long term storage options within the community?
- What systems/processes will be viable after the end of cheap oil?
(Robert Larson) [Please delete this temporary item as appropriate.] I was going to be nice (as a non group member) and keep my hands off this article, so I put my comments in the discussion page. I was surprised to find that I was the first one to use it, and concerned that no one would look at the Discussion page. So I went to the group member contact list so I could tell somebody about it, but the contact list is empty too! Does the Water group need some computer literacy training? Is the "non-members use the discussion page" policy toast? Should I just copy my comments and paste 'em in here directly?
Some general information
Little Lake Valley geology: water filled gravel beds, not uniform, but often shallow (e.g., 8-30 ft) and of high quality do exist thoughout the valley. Deeper sources can run into Mn and Fe (mostly cosmetic). Pockets of Boron need to be avoided if used to irrigate.
High end solar pumps do about 8 gallons per minute and operate ca. 8 hours per day, yielding ca. 23,360 gallons per year. So each person would need about 2 solar pumps to meet their water needs.
322,344 gallons in an acre foot. So each acre foot can provide for the ag needs of ca. 6.5 people.
For more information Water Resources Board
(Jason Bradford) Link to a solar or hand powered water pump http://www.solar4power.com/solar-power-water-pump.html
