The desalinator is working! It purred away running off solar power this afternoon for two hours 10min. It has a new reverse osmosis membrane (good for 1-2 years), and new pre and post filters. It looks a bit intimidating with the gauges and flow meters, a network of hoses, pumps, filters and the accessory equipment like pressure tank, sand wash tank and water pump, but the instructions are excellent.  It produced 1.3 L of fresh potable water per minute for a total of 169L. The concentrated sea water was discharged at 9.5 L per minute, for a recovery rate of 12% (1.3/(1.3+9.5) x 100).

Greg also delivered 550 L of diesel fuel today. The large tidy tank in the Tank Shed now holds 699L, more than enough until the fall when the weather changes and the days become too short to maintain the station needs on solar alone.

Wildlife notes:

I was busy for most of the day and didn’t observe the wildlife much. While laying out the fuel line and coiling the fire hoses from the cistern filling done the day before, I watched the two elephant seals “playing” together in the water at the end of the boat ramp. I wonder if he will miss his friend. They say it is a hard life for the male elephant seals. They live shorter lives and only 1% get a chance to breed, as only one alpha male maintains breeding rights over his large harem. Other than his beta male which patrols the boundary, the other males are not allowed in.

Facility work:

• cleaned solar panels
• diesel delivery
• work on desalinator

Vessels:

19 ecotourism, 1 private, 3 kayakers

Weather:

Sunny, moderate westerly breeze most of the day. A thick fog with visibility less than 1/4 mile rolled in at 19:00.  Daytime temperature range: low 10, high 13.