Management
of Fresh Water
Los Cardones is not part any municipal water supply system. We rely on our well for fresh water.
Fresh water from our well is used for:
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Showering |
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Any type of cleaning (laundry, dishes...) |
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Plant watering |
Our
Well
It's a dug well. It consists of a vertical hole of 1m in diameter excavated in the soil down to the water-bearing stratum. It was cased with a reinforced concrete tube and cemented stones.
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A mechanical pump displaces the water to an elevated 1100-ltr tank. The pump is an ingenious local design called ´Bomba de mecate´ that is used throughout the nicaraguan countryside. The tank´s tower is 2.5 meter high which guarantees a nice pressure inside the pipes.
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Grey water recycling:
The water used from cleaning, and showering is drained through a network of perforated pipes to irrigate gardens. The trenches of these washwater gardens were impermeabilized to prevent any infiltration of recycled water to the soil and water table. It offers the advantage of creating a beautiful tropical garden while preventing any contamination of the soil and water table. The soap we use is eco-friendly and biodegrades quickly.
The trenches were lined with thick plastic, filled with gravel, perforated pipes then sand. These materials and the use of breather vents ensure proper aeration of the system. The greywater becomes a nutrient-rich media where thirsty plants thrive.
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