WATER STORAGE
In the US and Canada we are certainly used to turning on the tap and having water. It’s just not something we have to think about, but here in Sayulita, when you turn on the tap, water is not coming from the city pipes. Water is stored on site either in cisterns (below ground containment) or tinacos (above ground, typically on a roof). In many cases, homes have both. Cisterns are typically average 10,000 liters of water, whereas tinacos are usually around 1,100 liters for the most common one. So, how much water does a house really need? This is not a simple question to answer so let’s look at some of the variables and you can decide if you need to expand your water storage.
First and most importantly is that guests rarely worry about water usage. One major advantage of doing personal check-ins, as is the norm here at Tu Casa Sayulita Property Management, is that we can stress the importance of using water sparingly. When we make a personal connection with guests, we can have a chat and quickly explain how water works. Another problem is that different parts of town receive more water than others. This is something that nobody can really control. Oromapas has pumps and valves all over town and somehow, they control the water flow. Another challenge is that each year it seems that Sayulita struggles more and more with water. Water aquifers may have less water while more housing is built and more lines are installed. Infrastructure is rarely improved, so there is more demand for the same amount of water.
We feel that the best scenario is to have a minimum of 10,000 liters in a cistern that pumps water up to tinacos found on the roof of the house. The more tinacos the better because if the power goes out, that pump in the cistern will obviously stop working. The guests will be left with only what is on the roof. We may think that 1,100 Liters is a lot of water but a 4 guests can easily blow through that in less than a day. If you do not have a cistern, we highly recommend installing one and of course, we have experience with that. You may find it expensive to do but a pipa truck charges $600 pesos for 5,000 liters. With the shortage this year, we paid up to $1,500 pesos for a 10,000 liter pipa truck! That will add up quickly during the dry months.
So, take some time to explore your water storage options. Planning ahead will ensure a smooth rental season.
