This concrete catchment area
collects rainwater as it falls
from the sky and channels it to
the Center's cistern. SFS also
collects the water from roof
gutters to maximize water
collection. The white pipe in
this image is one of the gutter
drains.
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Water, Water, Every....where?This series of photographs
illustrates one of the most
important concepts on South
Caicos Island: fresh water
supply. The climate is arid for
much of the year, with an
annual average rainfall of 16
inches. The wet season,
September to December,
provides the SFS Center with
most of its annual water supply.
Digital images courtesy of Drew Van
Voorhees, SFS Senior Intern
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This is the opening to the
cistern, a large tank that stores
the water collected by the
catchment area and roof
gutters. It holds approximately
50,000 gallons, and the SFS
center uses 1/4" to 3/4" of
water from the cistern each
day. Water used at the center
today was probably collected
last fall.
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In times when there is an
extreme water shortage at the
SFS Center, staff and students
get their drinking water from
the ocean! They use this
reverse osmosis system to
remove the salt. Why don't they
use this system all the time?
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This spring, the students and
staff were privileged to
experience a rare 15-minute
rainstorm. Rupert
Herbert-Burnes, one of the
SFS site managers, takes it like
water off a duck's back!
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The brief rainstorm brought out
the best in everyone, as
students ran out to play in it.
Not only did it cool the
temperature down for a short
while, but it also provided the
Center with a bit more of a
precious resource.
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