Where do the islands get their water from?

The_Minister

This isn't really an AH question, but I couldn't think of a forum to put it in, so it goes in AH.

Does anyone know where th inhabited islands around Ireland get their water?
Do they pump it from the mainland or do they have their own sources?

How much do they use annually (or how would I find out)

Wertz

It falls magically from the sky

corglass

Good question, anyone actually know?

lucylu

ehh wells

Hogzy

A well maybe... its the same way extremely rural households in Ireland get their water afaik

WeeBushy

http://www.dnr.state.wi.us/org/caer/ce/eek/earth/groundwater/images/groundwater.gif

Pal

groundwater

snubbleste

Rainwater mainly
If there is a dry summer, water is rationed and in extreme cases is shipped from the mainland

zAbbo

Same place people have been getting water for centuries.

• springs
• lakes
• collect rain water
• remove salt from sea water (probably using wind power as energy)
• mineral water pumped from underground

corglass

If the well's are below sealevel then the water would eventually be salty?

Beanstalk

Some Islands i know of get piped water (like Arranmore off Donegal). Other islands have small water tretment works, some rely on spring water/rain water. Sorry this isn't much help, a good way to find out would be to look at local authority improvment schemes and reports on environmental issues. heres a report from Donegal http://tiny.cc/eV9Yn

Princess Consuela Bananahammock

Same as everyone else, I assume - shipped in in plastic bottles with the rest of the groceries.

The_Minister

Ok, thanks for the replies (those of you who weren't pricks).


I was reading up on a project in Greece which was quite interesting (it was a floating, autonomous wind generator used to supply desalinated water to an island that before had to ship water in), and I wanted to know how the Irish islands dealt with the problem.

Quazzie

The_Minister wrote: »

I was reading up on a project in Greece which was quite interesting (it was a floating, autonomous wind generator used to supply desalinated water to an island that before had to ship water in), and I wanted to know how the Irish islands dealt with the problem.

Greece would have a different position to obtaining water than we would on this island, simply because they have issues with disposing of sewerage, and with the sewerage contaminating the drinking water.

Due to much higher precipitation levels in Ireland, even throughout our summers, we don't suffer the same problem and therefore are able to rely on natural methods of water supply, as we are throughout mainland Ireland

zAbbo

The_Minister wrote: »

Ok, thanks for the replies (those of you who weren't pricks).


I was reading up on a project in Greece which was quite interesting (it was a floating, autonomous wind generator used to supply desalinated water to an island that before had to ship water in), and I wanted to know how the Irish islands dealt with the problem.

In a similar way, the islands off the west coast use wind turbines to desalinate salt water - as this requires a process of boiling - so it seems a cost effective method.

Zzippy

zAbbo wrote: »

In a similar way, the islands off the west coast use wind turbines to desalinate salt water - as this requires a process of boiling - so it seems a cost effective method.

Do you know which islands use this method? I've never heard of any desalination plants anywhere in Ireland before, wasn't aware of this...

JackM_79

A tap ???

ejmaztec

I thought I'd clicked on the "Sensible Questions Forum" by mistake.:eek:

Wertz

The_Minister wrote: »

Ok, thanks for the replies (those of you who weren't pricks).

Thanks for that. Any more interesting questions?

ejmaztec

Wertz wrote: »

Thanks for that. Any more interesting questions?

That's a very interesting question in itself, and no doubt some wise person will be along shortly to give it the answer it deserves.

Princess Consuela Bananahammock

ejmaztec wrote: »

That's a very interesting question in itself, and no doubt some wise person will be along shortly to give it the answer it deserves.

No. There's aren't.

Wertz

Wertz wrote: »

Thanks for that. Any more interesting questions?

Is there a branch of Abrakebabra in Cabra, and if there is, is it called Cabrakebabra?

ejmaztec

Deleted User wrote: »

Is there a branch of Abrakebabra in Cabra, and if there is, is it called Cabrakebabra?

It's just after quarter to 4.

Princess Consuela Bananahammock

Deleted User wrote: »

Is there a branch of Abrakebabra in Cabra, and if there is, is it called Cabrakebabra?

No, Skangerkebabra.

aDeener

The_Minister wrote: »

This isn't really an AH question, but I couldn't think of a forum to put it in, so it goes in AH.

Does anyone know where th inhabited islands around Ireland get their water?
Do they pump it from the mainland or do they have their own sources?

How much do they use annually (or how would I find out)

:rolleyes: easy knowing where your from

Lobster

Most do collect rainwater

danniemcq

from personal experience Tory island has to get it from a well, they have running water but there is bits in it so you aren't meant to drink it (although nobody told me for months when i started going out with a tory girl!

still can't have done me much harm i escaped the crypto terror in galway despite drinking outta the same glass of water mates were drinking who ended up pooing blood! woot for my immune system!

Quint

In Bermuda the roofs are designed to collect rainwater because there's no fresh water source on the island. Houses have underground tanks, about the size of a swimming pool (private house one, not a olympic one) to store the water. There's chlorine in the roof paint, when it rains, the water collected is automaticly chlorinated. Is that a word?
The roofs are concrete instead of slate, so if theres a storm, the houses are safe. On an island it can be a problem getting supplies for every house on the island at the same time, so if they didn't have decent roofs, a storm can be a serious problem.
Bermuda roof

Rented Mule

The_Minister wrote: »

Ok, thanks for the replies (those of you who weren't pricks).

I see what you did there.

Capt'n Midnight

http://www.galway.net/about/weather/ Islands woundn't get as much rain as mountains and it only rains about 240 days a year

Aran islands have storage tanks, there can be shortages like not using the shower and the drinking water tasting a little salty. on the farms there are concreted water collection areas
the islands are porus limestone so water flows underground so no streams

The_Minister

aDeener wrote: »

:rolleyes: easy knowing where your from

??????
An urban area (Dublin) if thats what you mean.

Tipsy Mac

Zzippy wrote: »

Do you know which islands use this method? I've never heard of any desalination plants anywhere in Ireland before, wasn't aware of this...

Inis Meain, the middle of the Aran Islands off Galway is the only one to have them as far as I know. They have 3 wind turbines which are used to power the desalination plant which then supplies water to the island. Excess power is sold back to the ESB and this helps run everything.