The Great Use Less Water Hunt

flashman_62

My water butt I ordered finally arrived yesterday. It was left outside in the hot sun, now the lid resembles a large Pringle crisp...lol hope it warps back!

Skiduck

I've stopped watering plant pots with a watering can and rose - too much misses the pots (i expect about a third depending on the rose)

wishingonastar_3

my hanging baskets have old sponges in the bottom to help keep the water in when watered, already had a save a flush bag in thee toilet, but have trained dd to ask if i want the loo when she goes and vice versa, so we only flush once, lol. as theres only the two of us, pots are only washed at night (all in one go, we are out at lunchtime though) washing up water goes on house plants as we don't have a garden, just a bit of a yard. we turn the shower off once wet to lather up with soap and shampoo before on again to rinse, we fill a tumbler with water to use to brush our teeth, rather than have a tap running, and share a couple of inches of water in the sink to wet flannels to soap up to wash our faces. we use hand gel after toilet rather than soap and water to clean hands, and in between, i e before meals.

woas.

willow_girl

Although not yet restricted (but I am sure it will happen soon!) I have been trying to cut down our use of water (or should I say waste!). I have had a water butt for some time and find it invaluable but obviously we do need rain occasionally to keep it topped up. I would like a second but unfortunately only have the space for one. I have been recycling the washing up water for the garden lately and also I have been filling up jugs or empty plastic milk bottles when waiting for the water to warm up for washing and using that on the garden/fill the bird bath etc. My DH is also doing this too! Result :T Any other tips would be gratefully received. Oh yes we do the usual, shower/turn off taps when brushing teeth etc.

Ken68

Hi Willow, butts and tanks are only a reservoir, you will never catch all the rain from the roof, so limit yourself to what your receptacles can hold.
Bird bath, garden use, the occasional pailful for the toilet. The results will show up in the water bill, a lower tariff, if below 75 cubic metrs a year.That alone will save you £100.

gromituk

westoverg6 wrote:

(Shop With Confidence - The Green Shop online store is accredited by SafeBuy/TrustUK)

Do you have any connection at all with The Green Shop? People often post ads on here, and can find it quote counterproductive...

headintheclouds

Lots of interesting stuff here. Thanks to everyone for the tips. I often feel a bit out of my depth when tips involve anything remotely resembling d.i.y., though - fiddling round with bits of pipe to divert waste water into a water butt is, I'm sure, beyond me. Will have to find a friend who knows about these things.

My friends have a question and I wondered if anyone knows the answer. They have a natural spring running underneath their front garden. The water goes into a tank and then drains into the river. Are they allowed to run a hose from the tank to their back garden? They use the water in the front just by filling cans etc., but it's a long way round to the back.

I am very cross about some people's attitude towards the current water shortage. My neighbours have been out all day and left a housepipe and sprinkler running. We are in a Thames Water area - hence there is a ban. I just can't believe how someone can do this - and this is the second time this week. It hasn't even been watering anything that needs it - the whole thing seems to twist round, and when I last looked it was watering a bike. It is so frustrating to have this happening when people who have contributed to this board are going to great lengths to conserve water - this just undermines all our efforts.

Keep up the good work everyone and thanks again for your helpful posts.

1jim

does the spring exit on their property? if it does i cant see why they couldnt but i dont know this for a fact, does the house deeds say anything about rights to th spring?

headintheclouds

Yes, the spring does exit on their property. I have no idea about what it says on the house deeds, but I might suggest they look at them, so that's a useful thought - thanks.

charlieheard

headintheclouds wrote:

Yes, the spring does exit on their property. I have no idea about what it says on the house deeds, but I might suggest they look at them, so that's a useful thought - thanks.

If they are in a hosepipe ban, they can't use a hosepipe to spray water from the spring - the water would eventually flow into a river or reservoir anyway. There's nothing to stop them collecting the water higher up, or pumping it to a higher storage tank and then using watering cans.

On It's not Easy Being Green they even used solar power to pump the water, so running costs are virtually nil. They used the water as drinking water, so they saved on water meter costs as well.