In Bocas del Toro, rainwater harvesting is vital for self-sufficiency. Oversize your storage to endure dry spells, and optimize collection with metal or tiled roofs. Backup plans like pools and wells boost reliability, while filtration ensures clean drinking water year-round. With smart planning, you can thrive in this lush paradise, even during climate uncertainties.
I’ll apply the same golden rule for rainwater harvesting as I did for solar energy (How to produce electricity on the island?). While we are fortunate to be in a region with abundant rainfall, we are not immune to dry spells that can last up to six or eight weeks with little to no rain. It happens!
Just as with solar energy, once you have calculated your water storage capacity based on your anticipated consumption at your living site (be it a private home, rental bungalow, or guest rooms), you can then assess your rainwater harvesting capacity. This capacity can be estimated based on the surface area of your roof. Keep in mind that if you have palm roofs, you won’t be able to collect rainwater. You’ll need roofs made of metal sheets, tiles, shingles, or plastic. The more roof surface you have equipped with gutters, the more rainwater you can collect, especially during dry periods when even a brief rain shower can be a bonus.
Backup plan
If you have a swimming pool, it’s advisable to set up a direct pumping system to divert water from the pool back into your distribution network, whether through your storage tanks or not. This setup can be a lifesaver during dry spells, particularly if you have guests on-site. So don’t overlook this option if you have a pool, even a small one.
Well
If you’re fortunate enough to have a well or a stream nearby, it certainly increases your chances of having a water supply on-site. However, drilling for water can be complicated and costly, especially if you need to bring in specialized machinery, which might be impossible on the islands.
Filtration
It’s also crucial to manage water filtration both upstream and downstream of your tanks. Upstream, install plastic mesh screens on your gutters to eliminate initial debris, leaves, and other material that may settle on your roofs. Then, at the entrance to your tanks, use finer mesh screens. Downstream of the tanks, before the tap, you can filter and treat the water using wool filters, micron filters, and carbon filters, and you can consider incorporating a UV treatment system. Keep in mind that UV treatment requires energy, as it uses a lamp to treat the water as it passes through.
Climate change
Given the anticipated impacts of climate change, regardless of the causes cited, it’s reasonable to assume that Bocas del Toro, due to its geographical position with high mountains creating a barrier to clouds from the Atlantic, should not lack water—or at least be better off compared to other regions in Panama or the world—provided that the wind patterns from offshore remain stable and that there are always clouds in the sky coming from the sea!
Water shortages
For now, Bocas del Toro remains a place that does not suffer from water shortages, as long as you are organized in terms of storage and management. Additionally, the cloud formations originate directly from the ocean, and we can assume that this water is clean since these clouds typically pass through few polluted areas, aside from the Antillean arc, which has minimal industrial activity, apart from vehicle emissions. It’s worth noting that this water is neutral and contains no trace elements.
A small but useful detail: this water is compatible with lead batteries, as it is free of calcium, which is beneficial if you have chosen traditional lead batteries.
In summary, utilizing rainwater is entirely feasible and even essential for most of the Bocas del Toro archipelago.
With proper management and filtration, you can have clean drinking water year-round.
Personally, like many locals and expatriates here, I have been consuming this water for 16 years.
