Jack Hargreaves would be proud

There's one element that is critical when you're off-grid, and that is water.  This is especially true when your power comes from micro-hydro.  If there is a reduction in the water that flows down the mountain, and therefore through your turbine, then you are not going to generate enough power for the house.  There are many things that could affect the water flow: a kink or break in the line, a blockage somewhere (small stones washed down in a rainstorm, for example), or a change in the actual source water (the stream could be blocked by a fallen tree, and the water has diverted elsewhere).  In winter of course, you have to deal with freezing in the line.  It stands to reason therefore, that regular checks and maintenance is necessary on both the water line itself and the turbine that generates the electricity.



This is an example of the many brooks and streams that flow down the mountain.



A pretty waterfall.

We recently had no choice but to replace the entire 1200 feet of water line, that runs from the intake (up the mountain) to the house.  Luckily for me, my husband knows more about water lines (and water in general) than anyone I've ever met!  Still, it was a huge (and expensive) task.  But at least now we know that the line is good and more importantly, we know where it is and where the joins are.  Later we'll bury it down about a foot so that it won't freeze in the winter, but for now it's just laying on the surface. 

The other thing that Paul did was separate the water for the house from the water for the garden.  With five acres of organic gardens and an abundance of grape vines and fruit trees, it's very important that the garden gets enough water.  I'm pleased to report that we now have excellent water pressure for a variety of garden taps and hoses, which does not affect the water pressure in the house.  It's a real pleasure to see the sprinkler whipping water across the vegetable beds, and still be able to turn on the kitchen tap and have water gushing!



One of the garden taps with hose attached.



This was way back when the potatoes were teeny weeny! 



Look at them now!

Now, we also have a pond, which is fed from upstream, and then feeds into a downstream water table.  It's critical for the health of the pond and the life that depends on it (fish, frogs, toads, snakes, insects, birds, etc.) that we are able to manage the water level. 



A lovely sight.  But what if the water level starts to drop?



Behold!  A sluice gate.  This will make it possible for us to control the water level in the pond.



Putting it in place.  This is positioned over the outflow from the pond as it begins its flow downstream.



So this basically acts as a weir.  If there is too much water exiting the pond, and the pond levels are dropping, it can be closed off to allow water to build back up in the pond.  Then it can be opened to let water flow out of the pond and down the waterfall to the downstream water table.


When my husband and I were little kids, we both used to watch a British TV show called "Out of Town."  It starred a wonderful older gentleman called Jack Hargreaves, and he would expound in a very jovial and entertaining manner on all kinds of ways and means of country life in days gone by.  He would clip-clop along in his horse-drawn buggy, chewing on his pipe, and to this day the theme music gives me goosebumps.  He was like our own favourite uncle, and the knowledge that he passed on was (and still is) priceless.  It is the kind of knowledge that is almost lost now, in our modern world.  When I saw what Paul had done here, making a weir for our little waterway, I said to him "Jack Hargreaves would be proud."  And he would.