Stream

Way back at the end of last year, before we'd sorted out our 'net connection (therefore pre-blog), and after a very wet December we were introduced to the first of several water problems with Hillside. The most dramatic was the stream that appeared from nowhere after hours of torrential rain and was captured for all to see by our post-Christmas visitors on http://www.knowles22fd.plus.com/. Although slightly less impressive, the rainwater pipe in the 'utility' area that blocked and backed up, spewing water jets into the house, was slightly more of a drama! While I was hacksawing the pipe to release the pressure and enable the drain to be rodded through, Cathy was 3 feet away in the kitchen mixing cakes for the visitors due the next day!

After the fantastic weather in April we thought we'd seen the back of excessive rain and saturated ground until the winter. By then we should've been able to sort out the broken land drain that appears to be the cause of the stream. But no, the record breaking rainfall in June has caused the stream to appear at least once over the last few days, albeit when I've been at work. Thankfully the dam I built in January and a small ditch I dug have helped to ensure the water (when it appears) doesn't flow towards the house.

If the water flow was consistent it'd be good to make use of it to generate power via a water wheel, but I think it's too unpredictable for this. Instead I'll maybe just have to make the most of capturing it for re-use in the garden and as a good supply of water for a wildlife pond or two.