The elevated barrel usually indicates that water pressure is only sometimes available.
For example, the available pump might be solar powered and batteryless, or just a manual hand pump.
In either case, the water being elevated allows people to use the shower even when the pump cannot operate - at night, if solar, or just some people don’t have the physical fitness to operate some hand pumps.
Edit: All of that to agree - this setup is typically awkward as fuck.
Edit 2: Also, the barrel can also serve to warm the water from frigid underground running water temperatures up to “water that has been sitting in the sunlight” temperatures.
How do they refill that barrel? Looks awkward as fuck.
Oh, I know this one.
The elevated barrel usually indicates that water pressure is only sometimes available.
For example, the available pump might be solar powered and batteryless, or just a manual hand pump.
In either case, the water being elevated allows people to use the shower even when the pump cannot operate - at night, if solar, or just some people don’t have the physical fitness to operate some hand pumps.
Edit: All of that to agree - this setup is typically awkward as fuck.
Edit 2: Also, the barrel can also serve to warm the water from frigid underground running water temperatures up to “water that has been sitting in the sunlight” temperatures.
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I think that hose on the outside left is for filling the barrel… and/or making a siphon that empties the barrel.