Interesting points, Mike. And, unfortunately, yet another problem for Vietnam vets, and another one not widely publicised (I didn't know about it). There would have to be other ways, which would either prevent the build up or prevent the toxins getting through (maybe even both), I guess it's then an issue of whether they're anywhere near cost effective...

David, I heard that one of the shopping centres up here (Mt Ommaney, from memory, might be wrong) sourced all its water from its Air Conditioning system, similar to what the "Dragon Fly" probably does. The A/C system produces large amounts of run-off, which they then put into a couple of huge tanks, which are always overflowing, despite supplying the centre's toilets and gardens.

Tad
Air conditioning water tower systems are a complex system as well as they need water to act as a heat exchange so they can function properly. The problem there is the water must be carefully managed to control bacterial growth in the water tanks - particularly nasties like legionella which causes Legionaires Disease is some people. Its certainly a good source of non potable water untreated.

The dragonfly system where the water does not have another purpose would be a good system.

Dont forget that Brisbane is fairly humid because of its geography, the same system will not yield as much in a less humid area.

What an interesting topic we have all discussed. Tad, the shopping centre in question is at Springfield Lakes and has been designed with many innovatives ideas pertaining to reducing greenhouse effects. The only reason Wivenhoe dam was built when it was, is the fact that Brisbane was flooded in 1974. It was not planned for construction until the 90's and initially was for flood mitigation as expected growth back then had forward planners saying it would fill our needs till 20 20 or beyond , I can't exactly recall from a recent newspaper article.

Mike, aside from the rain you have had, has Lake Burendong had any useful falls? I passed through Gulgong a couple of weeks ago but didn't have enough time to stop and say hello. Listening to the rural report on the way, I was quite horrified to hear the % fill of the dam. Whats worse is also hearing that one of the councils has just sold a water contract to a mining concern. Where do they get the water?

Anyway, back to issues for Minis. I will drive mine as much as possible to save the planet. It will produce less emissions in it's lifetime than what you get in the processes needed for the production of a new car to replace it.

64Cooper

in a nutshell, the rain crept through a break in the blue mountains near Newcastle and it rained all the way to Broken Hill in a narrow band that was not much further north than Coolah and not much further south than Bathurst.

Orange only got 22mm for example. We got 120mm although the rain decreased the further west you went. Those single figure percentages are common for many of the dams throughtout regional NSW. Yes Burendong certainly got significant rainfall but it was not a dam filler upperer. Just a healthy refresher.

64cooper, I thought that it was Brisbane, but I didn't think it was that close... It's my local. I love blasting up the chute out of the underground car park... I heard about it before Orion Stage 1 was finished, so I assumed there'd be similar things done there, given all the commotion they made about how environmentally friendly it is.
I hope they get more water off their condensers than I get off mine. It's not too humid over here, relatively speaking, although I guess they'll be driving their A/C harder than I drive mine... Good thing they've got their little bank of solar panels on the tower out the front...
We can only hope that the people on the news tonight are right. They're now saying this will be the first La Nina since 1998. We'll see what happens - we're certainly due for a change.
Tadhg

Update for 64Cooper who asked about Burendong dam. The news last night said that Burendong's capacity had increased by 1% because of the rain and that meant that the planned cutback of water releases to irrigators further down stream could be postponed for a few weeks.

Cottons farmers still get their water plus what fell out of the sky.

Heard a report recently that scientists have been talking to the aboriginals and they are saying a certain species of wattle that grows down the Cooper and Diamatena basins only flowers when its seeds are to be immersed in water ie flood for long enough to germinate. It hasn't flowered for 5+ years and its flowering this year. We can only hope nature knows something we don't.

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David L


My greatest fear in life is that when I die my wife will sell my Mini and tools for the price I told her I paid for them!

The weather patterns have now definately changed from the patterns of the last few years. maybe we are in for a more "normal" couple of seasons. Lets hope so.

We are now going to get a spring event that is more than just statutuary dates on a calender.

Dont let any politicians tell you that because we have had some rain that they have fixed the drought and solve the global warming. They havn't.

Not so sure about water, but there's no problem when it comes to signs of temperature

Joke:

"It was April and the Aboriginals in a remote part of Northern Australia asked their new elder if the coming winter was going to be cold or mild.

Since he was an elder in a modern community he had never been taught the old secrets. When he looked at the sky he couldn't tell what the winter was going to be like.

Nevertheless, to be on the safe side, he told his tribe that the winter was indeed going to be cold and that the members of the tribe should collect firewood to be prepared.

But, being a practical leader, after several days he had an idea. He walked out to the telephone booth on the highway, called the Bureau of Meteorology and asked, "Is the coming winter in this area going to be cold?"

The meteorologist responded, "It looks like this winter is going to be quite cold."

So the elder went back to his people and told them to collect even more wood in order to be prepared.

A week later, he called the Bureau of Meteorology again. "Does it still look like it is going to be a very cold winter?"

The meteorologist again replied, "Yes, it's going to be a very cold winter." The elder again went back to his community and ordered them to collect every scrap of firewood they could find.

Two weeks later the elder called the Bureau again. "Are you absolutely sure that the winter is going to be very cold?" he asked.

"Absolutely," the man replied. "It's looking more and more like it is going to be one of the coldest winters ever."

"How can you be so sure?" the elder asked.

"The weatherman replied, "There are reports that the Aboriginals are collecting firewood like crazy and that's always a sure sign."

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1967 Cooper S - new front bearings to do.
1965 Cooper S shell - Slow progress. No time or money!
1966 Deluxe- next rustoration!
Mk 2 & XJ6 Jags. Less said the better.