Saving Water - Tips

Penelope_Penguin

As this has fallen fromt he front page of OS, I'll add it to the thread squeaky mentions earlier

sparrer

I've just received a letter from my water co saying they're putting my dd up from £13 to £16 a month. Not happy as the last bill showed me £40 in credit. Will be querying it on Monday. I'm a single with 2 cats and a dog, on the low rate usage.

I do the majority of the above and have also picked up one or two tips which I'll be putting into action from now on. Thank you to all the posters

I have a strip wash on the days I'm not going out, so 4/5 times a week. Always put the plug in before turning on the hot tap, the cold run-off saves cooling down a bowl of boiling water afterwards. I put the plug in the bath when I have a shower, if the water gets as far as my ankles I've been in there too long! And that way my feet get a good soak, the remaining water gets used to either clean the bathroom or soak some undies, then it's scooped up and put in the loo.

I have a part denture which I soak in a wee glass just big enough for the water to cover it, and use half a denture tablet. Put the plug in the basin and the glass on the plug - the 'fizz' usually spills over. When done tip the water and denture out and give it a scrub the a very quick rinse under the cold tap. Leave the denture water in the basin for as long as poss and it cleans any build-up around the plug hole. Every little helps!

I keep the bowl in the sink and a bucket on the floor nearby, even being careful it's amazing how much water is in the bucket at the end of the day.

I had an outside tap and hosepipe installed a few months ago but have only used it a couple of times, I discovered how easy it is to stand chatting to my neighbour while we're both out there soaking everything in sight :eek:. Back to the watering cans next year.

I'm sure there must be a lot more that I do automatically, just can't think of them at the mo. Thanks for a really useful post OP

KittyBoo_2

I am always trying to be economical with the water but it drives me mad when I need some hot water to do the dishes.
What do you do with the water you run before it gets hot.
I bottle it up in the Summer for the garden but that's not needed now the wet weather is here.
Not sure if it's more economical to just boil a kettle of water than it is to let all that water go down the plug hole.

GreyQueen

KittyBoo wrote: »

I am always trying to be economical with the water but it drives me mad when I need some hot water to do the dishes.
What do you do with the water you run before it gets hot.
I bottle it up in the Summer for the garden but that's not needed now the wet weather is here.
Not sure if it's more economical to just boil a kettle of water than it is to let all that water go down the plug hole.

At my previous flat, I had a combi boiler which used to have to run water thru before the hot tap went hot and it used to craze me, too.

I wasn't even on a water meter at that address, but the wastefulness was offensive to me.

Summertime, I'd sometimes catch the water in a large-mouthed plastic jug for the backyard planters, winter time, I'd save some of it for cooling down a hot bath (carried it thru to avoid using cold tap water IYSWHIM).

:(I never did get an entirely satisfactory solution to the problem.:(

frugalqueen_2

My garden paths, my patio have gone green and are getting slippy. To save money, I used the water from the rain butts, mixed with just a little eco bleach and some eco wash up liquid and took time, and had a work out, scrubbing the green slime off. I used to use a power washer but the water is too expensive. I found that the water butt water worked just fine and nothing's slippy now. what do you do to save on the cost of water?

fuddle

I take the sacrifice in our household and sit in a puddle for my bath. I can't convince the others that being submerged in water isn't getting them any cleaner just costing more in gas and water.

I figure my puddle is at least saving some water and gas and as long as I scrub up and rinse off how am I any dirtier than lying in water for 30 mins?

Also eco 30 on a quick wash on the washing machine, only ever full loads - too full at times but never mind.

squeaky

Hiya

See:- Saving Water - Tips

I'll add your thread to that one shortly.

ariba10

We have water butts and use them to supply water to a power washer. (One of the reasons we bought them)

paidinchickens

Rant alert

Our water tastes of chlorine and after having the water board come to test the water they have said " you should let the water run for a couple of minutes before you use it" :mad::mad:

Blow me the news yesterday said we were on a water shortage which is not surprising if they tell everyone this :mad::mad:

So we now have a water filter installed at the kitchen sink, which we draw off and put in the fridge as this seems to get rid of the horrible taste. The whole street suffer so I know its not just us.

To save water we use water butts in the garden. Two huge ones. We did have those taps put in the main bathroom that only come on so long then switch off when the kids were younger and kept leaving them on but we are about to change them now they are older.

blocks in the system and shower attachments (free from water board) there is also an attachment in the kitchen sink tap. (also from water board)

We do the yellow mellow thing but not with the downstairs toilet that visitors use :rotfl:

The hose is very rarely used. For slime on paths I use the old washing up water and a stiff broom.

Washer is a Dyson so holds a lot and uses less water and it only goes on 30 deg. If things are stained or dirty I put in the washer as normal and put the washer on pause for a couple of hours so it can soak.

Dirty floors etc I have a steamer which uses very little water and no cleaning products.

We did look into recycling our grey water but it was too expensive.

Can't think of owt else