Water Storage Systems

 

Broadcast: May 12, 2003
By Jill Moss¹

        This is the VOA Special English Development Report.
Each year, millions of people in Bangladesh drink ground water that has been polluted by naturally high levels of arsenic² poison. Finding³ safe drinking water in that country can be a problem. However, International Development Enterprises⁴ has a low-cost answer. This non-governmental organization has developed technology to harvest rainwater.
People around the world have been harvesting rainwater for centuries. It is a safe, dependable source of drinking water. Unlike ground water, rainwater contains no minerals or salts and is free of chemical treatments. Best of all, it is free.
The rainwater harvesting system created by International Development Enterprises uses pipes to collect water from the tops of buildings. The pipes stretch from the buildings to a two-meter tall storage tank made of metal. At the top of the tank is a so-called⁵ "first-flush" device⁶ made of wire screen. This barrier prevents dirt and leaves in the water from falling inside the tank.
A fitted cover sits over the "first-flush" device. It protects the water inside the tank from evaporating⁷. The cover also prevents mosquito insects from laying eggs in the water.
Inside the tank is a low cost plastic bag that collects the water. The bag sits inside another plastic bag similar to those used to hold grains. The two bags are supported inside the metal tank. All total, the water storage system can hold up to three-thousand-five-hundred liters⁸ of water. International Development Enterprises says the inner⁹ bags may need to be replaced every two to three years. However, if the bags are not damaged by sunlight, they could last even longer.
International Development Enterprises says the water harvesting system should be built on a raised structure to prevent insects from eating into it at the bottom. The total cost to build this rainwater harvesting system is about forty dollars. However, International Development Enterprises expects the price to drop over time. The group says one tank can provide a family of five with enough rainwater to survive a five-month dry season. International Development Enterprises has more information at its Web site, w-w-w-dot-i-d-e-o-r-g-dot-o-r-g (www.ideorg.org).
This VOA Special English Development Report was written by Jill Moss.

1 moss   

n.苔，藓，地衣

参考例句：

• Moss grows on a rock.苔藓生在石头上。
• He was found asleep on a pillow of leaves and moss.有人看见他枕着树叶和苔藓睡着了。

2 arsenic   

n.砒霜，砷；adj.砷的

参考例句：

• His wife poisoned him with arsenic.他的妻子用砒霜把他毒死了。
• Arsenic is a poison.砒霜是毒药。

3 finding   

n.发现，发现物；调查的结果

参考例句：

• The finding makes some sense.该发现具有一定的意义。
• That's an encouraging finding.这是一个鼓舞人心的发现。

4 enterprises   

事业( enterprise的名词复数 )； 事业心； 企[事]业单位； 企业发展

参考例句：

• In capitalist society,big enterprises always try to freeze out the smaller ones. 在资本主义社会，大企业总是千方百计地排挤小企业。
• Big transcontinental enterprises jostle with one another for world markets. 巨大的跨国公司[企业]互相争夺国际市场。

5 so-called   

adj.所谓的，号称的

参考例句：

• These were the so-called mainframe machines.它们被称为主机。
• Let's see what this so-called button does.让我们来看看为什么这个按钮叫这个名字。

6 device   

n.器械，装置；计划，策略，诡计

参考例句：

• The device will be in production by the end of the year.该装置将于年底投入生产。
• The device will save much time and effort for us.这种装置会使我们节省大量时间和气力。

7 evaporating   

adj.蒸发用的，蒸发作用的v.（使某物）蒸发掉( evaporate的现在分词 )；消失，不复存在；使脱水

参考例句：

• She went on separating, bolting, evaporating, filtering and mixing. 她不断地进行分离、熬煮、蒸发、滤清、调制。 来自辞典例句
• You transfer the solution to an evaporating basin. 转移溶液至一蒸发皿中。 来自辞典例句

8 liters   

n.升( liter的名词复数 )

参考例句：

• In the metric system, measurements are made in metres and liters. 在公制中，用米和升作计量单位。 来自《简明英汉词典》
• This can holds five liters of water. 这个容器可装五升水。 来自《简明英汉词典》

9 inner   

adj.内部的，里面的；内在的，内心的；精神的

参考例句：

• The label is on the inner side of the box.标签贴在盒子内侧。
• Other people seek the mountains for renewal of their inner lives.另一些人到深山中去，寻求新的精神生活。