Bdaric, in response to your questions as to how water collection in the DR compares to that in Bermuda, I decided to start a new thread.
Yes, there are some fairly good sized streams in the DR, and some of them are even called rivers. Untreated water from those rivers is the main, and sometimes only, source for people in rural or poor areas. Those who can afford it drink bottled water, but many drink straight from the river. Of course the integrity of even bottled water (or anything) is questionable, so maybe some of that mountain stream water is not so bad after all. The main source of pollution upstream is probably women washing clothes right in the river. On the positive side, some of the streams are well aerated over rapids, so maybe most of the germs are killed.
A gringo friend of mine built his own house with the roof designed to catch water, but I don't remember seeing any other such designs. Typically, Dominican houses don't have roof gutters. Many rural ones have thatched roofs for which gutters wouldn't be practical.
There is a thriving water truck business. In the rural areas, the most popular truck is the Daihatsu 1-ton (recognizable with dual rear wheels). The truck is extremely well designed, with even a jake brake (exhaust brake) common on heavy duty semis. They have tanks as large as 1000 gallons and charge as little as $10 a load to preferred customers living near a river (short trip). They like to drive right into the river to fill up. That way they splash around in the tropical heat and have a little fun while the pump is going.
Some of the full-sized trucks have 2000 gallon tanks.
Small villages typically don't have a water system. Those who can afford it have their own tanks in prefabricated sizes of 350 or 600 gallons. Bigger than that requires building a concrete holding tank. Poor people often have no more than a barrel.
Even in Santiago water trucks are seen pumping water out of the river, which is extremely dirty at that point. Hopefully the water is only for hosing down the street or something. I shudder to think that it is actually for use in some of the barrios.
Of course in the DR everyone is well advised to have his own tank for backup, which is so often needed.
Yes, there are some fairly good sized streams in the DR, and some of them are even called rivers. Untreated water from those rivers is the main, and sometimes only, source for people in rural or poor areas. Those who can afford it drink bottled water, but many drink straight from the river. Of course the integrity of even bottled water (or anything) is questionable, so maybe some of that mountain stream water is not so bad after all. The main source of pollution upstream is probably women washing clothes right in the river. On the positive side, some of the streams are well aerated over rapids, so maybe most of the germs are killed.
A gringo friend of mine built his own house with the roof designed to catch water, but I don't remember seeing any other such designs. Typically, Dominican houses don't have roof gutters. Many rural ones have thatched roofs for which gutters wouldn't be practical.
There is a thriving water truck business. In the rural areas, the most popular truck is the Daihatsu 1-ton (recognizable with dual rear wheels). The truck is extremely well designed, with even a jake brake (exhaust brake) common on heavy duty semis. They have tanks as large as 1000 gallons and charge as little as $10 a load to preferred customers living near a river (short trip). They like to drive right into the river to fill up. That way they splash around in the tropical heat and have a little fun while the pump is going.
Some of the full-sized trucks have 2000 gallon tanks.
Small villages typically don't have a water system. Those who can afford it have their own tanks in prefabricated sizes of 350 or 600 gallons. Bigger than that requires building a concrete holding tank. Poor people often have no more than a barrel.
Even in Santiago water trucks are seen pumping water out of the river, which is extremely dirty at that point. Hopefully the water is only for hosing down the street or something. I shudder to think that it is actually for use in some of the barrios.
Of course in the DR everyone is well advised to have his own tank for backup, which is so often needed.