As reported by our Chief of Cistern Operations, Toby Thaler.
By early August I was about to send you all an email announcing that the water level in the cistern had dropped below the level of the lower tap. However, to my surprise, the night of August 9-10 the sky opened up and delivered a healthy shot of rain. NOAA rain gauge (I think it's at Sand Point) got 0.38 inches, a clear record for the date, and close to a record for any day in August, ever.
So, that morning as soon as the rain stopped and the sun came out, I took a measurement of the cistern water level. Attached is a photo with my labels. We gained approximately 400 gallons in one night!
Also, please remember that even after the water level drops below the bottom of the outlet tap so not even a trickle can come out, there is still about or almost 3,000 gallons of water in the tank. The tank goes down another two feet or so. Just keep pumping from the top.
The 8,000 gallon cistern is about 67 inches deep holding about 120 gallons per inch. The level rose August 10 something around 3½ (3.5) inches in response to 0.38 inches of rainfall. This means the tank fills up about one inch for every 0.1 inch of rain. That's a very rough estimate. Filling the tank should take c. 8 inches of rain. I.e., by the end of November.
By early August I was about to send you all an email announcing that the water level in the cistern had dropped below the level of the lower tap. However, to my surprise, the night of August 9-10 the sky opened up and delivered a healthy shot of rain. NOAA rain gauge (I think it's at Sand Point) got 0.38 inches, a clear record for the date, and close to a record for any day in August, ever.
So, that morning as soon as the rain stopped and the sun came out, I took a measurement of the cistern water level. Attached is a photo with my labels. We gained approximately 400 gallons in one night!
Also, please remember that even after the water level drops below the bottom of the outlet tap so not even a trickle can come out, there is still about or almost 3,000 gallons of water in the tank. The tank goes down another two feet or so. Just keep pumping from the top.
The 8,000 gallon cistern is about 67 inches deep holding about 120 gallons per inch. The level rose August 10 something around 3½ (3.5) inches in response to 0.38 inches of rainfall. This means the tank fills up about one inch for every 0.1 inch of rain. That's a very rough estimate. Filling the tank should take c. 8 inches of rain. I.e., by the end of November.
