In the last four years, the number of people living at the Byrne has grown, increasing the demand for water. Until recently, the Byrne houses relied on spring water from two shallow springs located in the canyon below the houses, supplemented by water deliveries in the summer when the springs run dry.

These deliveries were pumped through the hydrant line using a 5,000 gallon water truck, plus an auxiliary fire pump to create the pressure needed to pump the water uphill to the original 15,000 gallon metal water tank. This service could only be provided by one company, Sala Brothers Water, due to the need for an extra pump. Problems came up when Sala’s auxiliary pump broke and they didn’t purchase another because this was the only property it was used on.

It was time to think creatively and come up with another solution. We made several improvements:

• Finding and building out one more spring source that produces consistent water, bringing the total to three spring fed water sources.
• Replacing old wiring to the spring water pump and installing a conduit for added safety.
• Rebuilding the intermediary jet pump and building pump enclosure to house it.
• Rerouting/replacing water lines to more logical alignments and removing dilapidated pipe.
• Using an excavator to uncover deeply buried water lines, the alignment of which was previously unknown.
• Installing a 5,000 gallon tank close to houses, which any water truck can back up to and fill.
• Designing and constructing new tank pads and installing three 5,000 gallon water tanks as part of our gravity fed water system.
• Installing an ozonator, a low cost, low maintenance way to remove multiple biotic and abiotic contaminants and purify the water before it reaches the houses.

The process so far has been challenging and collaborative—integrating skills from equipment operation, construction, plumbing, electrical, and the collaboration of multiple LTSCC staff in the process.

Watch the Land Trust staff get creative in this quick video.

We now have a much more sustainable and safe water system. We’ve increased storage by 20,000 gallons, totaling 35,000 gallons capacity for storage, which should eliminate or drastically decrease the need to order water, depending on environmental conditions. All tanks that directly feed the houses can be independently isolated for storage (fire safety) or passively interact with each other.