I need some hints and tips!!!

[ian]

I can see Im gonna have to go to a few auctions to find the equipment you speak of mate... doable...

hey I know you know what you're doing, but if you're buying a pump at auction make sure you know what you bidding on as I don't think I've ever seen a pump with a rating plate setting out the head/flow rate curve.

[jmk89]

Dingo - don't want to be a wet blanket b'cos I love the idea of using the creek to water the garden. But just make sure that you are allowed to ...

At least in NSW there are restrictions in just taking water out of creeks and rivers without a water permit and the last thing we want to see is the wild guy with the white beard from the West wearing badly fitting jimmy jams at her maj's pleasure.

I note from a quick look that there is an Act called the Rights in Water and Irrigation Act 1914 which seems to be the relevant Act:
http://www.austlii.edu.au/au/legis/w...riwaia1914305/
- it gives someone like you who has a creek through or abutting your land a right to take water for domestic use of your self (family and servants!!!) and to water stock - but not for gardens, unless the land was alienated before the Act came into force (see section 9). Another section (42) gives you a right to get irrigation water if you are in an irrigation district, but then the Water Commission can meter and charge you. Also there can be relevant local by-laws. Not legal advice, just a quick look helicopter view.

I suppose you could take the water from the creek for domestic purposes only, collect it as grey water and then use that on the gardens of HBH! On a quick look that doesn't require a licence and is an even more green solution!!! Just better check on water quality if you are going to use it for drinking or washing (including clothes and dishes).

Good luck mate. I hope this doesn't put you off. Of course, it might be a good reason to tell HBH to hold back on all this garden mallarky and generally give you more time to do things that you want to in the shed...

[soundman]

It's worth noting that there are heaps of "good cheap" pumps out there these days.
The chineese are making real good knockoffs of the honda motors and fitting them up with transfer and fire fighting pumps.
then there are the cheap 240V AC and 12 & 24 V DC pumps available.

You need to cnow the head you need to push.
I think a fire fighter probaly has too much delivery to water a garden.

A 1" transfer pump would do the job as l;ong as it had enough head.
Pumping up to a tank is a real good idea, it allows you to buffer your delivery rate.
You can run a high delivery rate pump and turn it off when full.... a quick pumping, of run a low delivey rate pump and let it take its time.

Can you easily get far enough upstream to get a down hill flow?
then you don't need a pump just some polly.

the old water hammer pumps are a clever thing but you need quite a bit of down hill flow to power your up hill push and there is a large amount of wash thru.
cheers