The Great Use Less Water Hunt

stilernin

I use a round washing up bowl, only a bit bigger than a dinner plate. Just think of the amount of water (and fuel to heat) I must be saving by not filling up useless corners!!

constantinum

hi,
thats the most responsible post i've ever come acrooss iun a long time

septuagenarian

I'm new, and haven't read everything, so this may already be here somewhere:
Attach a water butt to drainpipe. Use rain water from butt to fill cistern in toilet, after you flush.

septuagenarian

PS: If you want to be really stingy, like us, use bath water likewise.

Ben84

Vegtables can be cooked in the microwave oven with very small amounts of water, much less than it would take on the hob, just cover the bowl with a plate to stop it escaping. Rice cooked this way comes out very good too, but you do have to rinse it before, so not as economical as vegtables.

I also believe (have to do the exact maths yet) that it takes much less energy.

The_Leveller_3

These so-called water saving push button toilets, has anyone else noticed the leaking water running down the back of the pan. I did some research on this, these toilets all have drop valves in the cistern, they are just like a plug in a sink, with water always above the seal and they are very prone to leak. The EPA in the USA estimate that 85% of the 1.25 Trillion, yes Trillion US gallons a year from internal leakage comes from these valve flushing things. A few sums later and this works out at an average leakage rate of 44 litres per person per day.

How on earth can these be described as water saving toilets.

I have thrown mine out and gone back to toilets with handles on, which ALL have SIPHONS in the cistern, which NEVER leak.

choille

I live in a caravan with a cold tap until we build our house. We were fozen solid last year & had to take our water out of the burn - no problem really, just awkward.

Our water is our own supply, but I still only flush the loo for 'jobbies'. I & OH get washed in a basin & wash our hair in the sink with water that we've heated on the stove. I use the final rinse water to wash through some clothes. I don't have a washing machine, nor dish washer. I think that many people take water for granted & use gallons of treated water wastefully. Flushing the loo after just having a wee is ridiculous.
But, boy am I looking forward to a bath/shower & getting a plumbed in washing machine once the house is built.

Fred_Bear_2

The_Leveller wrote: »

I have thrown mine out and gone back to toilets with handles on, which ALL have SIPHONS in the cistern, which NEVER leak.

When I had a water meter installed 3 years ago I checked the readings for the first few days and was surprised how much water I was using. I traced the problem to a leak in the toilet cistern where the siphon joins the base of the cistern. I had noticed water trickling down the back of the pan for months but had assumed that a leak was impossible. I had broken my own golden rule: 'Never assume anything'.

I was upgrading my bathroom anyway so I replaced the WC with a new push button toilet. The whole mechanism seems flimsy to me and I am sure it will need repairing long before a traditional siphon would. So I agree with your general point, Leveller.

charlieheard

The_Leveller wrote: »

These so-called water saving push button toilets, has anyone else noticed the leaking water running down the back of the pan. I did some research on this, these toilets all have drop valves in the cistern, they are just like a plug in a sink, with water always above the seal and they are very prone to leak. The EPA in the USA estimate that 85% of the 1.25 Trillion, yes Trillion US gallons a year from internal leakage comes from these valve flushing things. A few sums later and this works out at an average leakage rate of 44 litres per person per day.

How on earth can these be described as water saving toilets.

I have thrown mine out and gone back to toilets with handles on, which ALL have SIPHONS in the cistern, which NEVER leak.

Have a look at Interflush, in particular at their valves vs siphon page. We went with these a while ago and they're still saving us loads.

I posted about them a few years ago, but it's worth repeating. Easy to install, lifetime warranty, fit and forget on any front-flush siphon loo. Well worth it.

j26

We are very happy with our Interflush device which we fitted last year, the company were very helpful so we got it fitted just right and everything flushes away fine when needed. Otherwise a quick pull on the handle gives just suffiicient water for a short flush. The beauty of this system is that you can choose how much water you need. Not everyone is comfortable with leaving the loo contents to 'mellow' and I wanted a 'clean' toilet for guests!!

I think there may be someone selling Interflush devices on Ebay...worth a look.