Eventually we will add some solar panels to supplement the wind power during the summer. Because of the historic status of the Lighthouse, the panels need to be placed out of sight, so they will be installed inside the anti-aircraft gun emplacement at the base of the windmill tower. Then when the water runs clean, the keeper closes the diverter to direct the water into the cistern, which is a plastic-lined room in the basement that can hold up to 3,000 gallons. Chlorine bleach is added to kill the bacteria and a series of filters removes microscopic particles, chlorine and also copper, which leaches out of the gutters. We use cistern water for flushing toilets, bathing, washing dishes and cleaning.
Bottled water is provided for cooking and drinking.
In the public toilet building bottled water is supplied along with moist towelettes. You will notice we ask people to discard soapy waste water onto the garden where it can grow some vegetables, rather than down a drain. During the summer droughts, we learned that conserving water in the first place was the best way to insure having enough throughout the summer for everyone's personal needs, as well as the plentiful vegetable garden. In the second floor keeper's apartment, a Paloma propane tankless water heater produces hot water only when it is needed, thereby saving a lot of water as well. The Lighthouse and the public toilet building each have a 1000-gallon septic tank.