Site Requirements for the Solar Showers
Size
The minimum shower set that can be hired is 2 units (4 cubicles). This requires a flat and level piece of ground 15m long (frontage) and 8m deep. A 4 unit (8 cubicles) set requires a 30m frontage and 8m depth. A 4 unit (8 cubicles) set may be split into 2 × 2 unit (4 cubicles) sets and deployed separately.
Sunshine
Because the showers are solar powered a sunny site is very important. This is usually best achieved by placing them along a (roughly) north/south running thoroughfare. It is important that there is no major shading behind or in front i.e. east or west, such as trees, large bushes, big marquees etc. as these can greatly reduce morning and/or late afternoon sunshine. Shading to the north doesn’t matter, big marquees etc are ok. Shading to the south is also not very important, as the sun is overhead when in the south.
4 unit (8 cubicles) shower set along north/south thoroughfare with no major shading to east or west. Arena area, Waveform Project 2007
Location
For optimum usage the showers should be positioned near the main entrance between the arena and camping area/s. This can be on either the camping or arena side as preferences or conditions dictate. Locating the showers next to toilet facilities is bad practice in the same way as several people using your toilet for a No. 2 whilst you are in the shower. It’s not nice and shows scant regard for shower users!
Fresh water usage
Each 2 unit (4 cubicles) shower set requires about 5000Lt of fresh water a day for full capacity running. This is half or less than the consumption of trailer and portaloo type shower units, which use powerful pumps to give a ‘power shower’.
In the event of site water supply failure each 2 unit (4 cubicles) set has reserve holding tanks, enough for half a days running at full capacity.
Waste water disposal
Waste water disposal is required in similar volumes to fresh water supply and may be by soak away (maximum distance from showers is 100m) or tanker emptied holding tanks, as site conditions/regulations dictate. In any event grey water disposal is the responsibility of the event organisers. Note that waste water disposal is by a bilge pump system which requires a hole 2 feet x 2 feet and 2 feet deep per 2 unit (4 cubicles) set. As only biodegradable soap products are used the waste water presents a minimal environmental hazard.
Firewood
The Event is responsible for supplying each 2 unit (4 cubicles) shower set with about 50kg of firewood per days operation.
