Installing Fats Waller
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Installing Fats Waller

The centerpiece of our plan to reduce storm runoff into the Anacostia River is the Fatboy Waterwall. We've nicknamed him Fats Waller. Fats is a 650 gallon above-ground cistern and he will apparently fill up if a bit over an inch of rain falls on our roof! We will connect Fats to drip hoses snaking around our plants and he will hopefully keep the yard well-watered throughout the year while also helping prevent combined sewer overflows into the river. So it not only helps cure our laziness, it also helps keep the river healthy.

http://waterwalltanks.com

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9/4/10 -- Some of us worked hard to tie down the Waterwall, while some of us tried hard to hug the Waterwall.

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9/4/10 -- Full success! The Waterwall is loaded on our Zipcar named Thundercat.

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9/4/10 -- We made it safely home! The plastic wrap shredded a bit en route, but Fats was a great passenger.

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9/4/10 -- This rolling composter is another new addition. It will move down the stairs once things are a bit more ready.

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9/4/10 -- View of Fats in his new place.

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9/4/10 -- Now it's Bill's turn to hang out with Fats.

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9/4/10 -- Waterwall emblem

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9/5/10 -- Carefully cutting out the hole for the inlet filter

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9/5/10 -- success!

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9/5/10 -- The view inside the tank from the inlet filter hole.

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9/5/10 -- Filter in place

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9/5/10 -- Molly's the only one we know who would fit in the tank, but she's not allowed inside. Also note the weight when full.

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9/6/10 -- Lots of neighbors have been curious about Fats. Mostly humans, but insects too.

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9/6/10 -- Almost finished! We'll have to fine tune things a bit and we'll need to connect the bypass line before winter. But we're ready for rain!

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10/15/10 -- OH NO! Fats sprung a small leak!

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10/15/10 -- Thankfully, though, Waterwall is incredibly responsive and has sent us a replacement

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10/29/10 -- But unfortunately the replacement was damaged in transit. So Waterwall sent a THIRD!

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10/29/10 -- Too many waterwalls! The original might be patchable, but is in any case very usable despite the very small leak. It will go collect rainwater at Casey Trees' new offices.

Copyright © 2010 by Giselle Hicks & Bill Ross

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