Mixer taps - really wasteful?

michaels

Water is not a finite resource, when we use it is not lost forever - if we were willing to invest more in storage and treatment then it would never run out it might just cost fractionally more per unit.

For example lets assume the water is extracted form the local river and then once treated returns to the same river - if you use more waiting for your tap to run hot or cold it makes no difference to the overall river flow, a very small amount of energy is used in the processing and pumping but very small compared to your overall carbon footprint.

Ectophile

michaels said:

Water is not a finite resource, when we use it is not lost forever - if we were willing to invest more in storage and treatment then it would never run out it might just cost fractionally more per unit.

For example lets assume the water is extracted form the local river and then once treated returns to the same river - if you use more waiting for your tap to run hot or cold it makes no difference to the overall river flow, a very small amount of energy is used in the processing and pumping but very small compared to your overall carbon footprint.

That doesn't help if your water supply comes from a reservoir or a borehole.  Once they have been sucked dry, there's not a lot you can do to get more water before the next winter.

Exiled_Tyke

michaels said:

Water is not a finite resource, when we use it is not lost forever - if we were willing to invest more in storage and treatment then it would never run out it might just cost fractionally more per unit.

For example lets assume the water is extracted form the local river and then once treated returns to the same river - if you use more waiting for your tap to run hot or cold it makes no difference to the overall river flow, a very small amount of energy is used in the processing and pumping but very small compared to your overall carbon footprint.

Tell that to the people of the SW U.S.A. who get their water from Lake Mead! 

QrizB

Water is fascinating (I had a job with a water co ages ago). Rainfall in the UK is very roughly 1 metre per year so a 100 sq. m. bungalow would receive 100 cubic metres of rain to its roof annually; enough to provide ~270 litres a day, which is pretty close to the amount that my family of four use.

Managing it and treating it, so you have enough potable water all year round, well that's another matter. Buying it from the water co is almost certainly the moneysaving option, and could be the green and ethical option too.

Martyn1981

QrizB said:

Water is fascinating (I had a job with a water co ages ago). Rainfall in the UK is very roughly 1 metre per year so a 100 sq. m. bungalow would receive 100 cubic metres of rain to its roof annually; enough to provide ~270 litres a day, which is pretty close to the amount that my family of four use.

Managing it and treating it, so you have enough potable water all year round, well that's another matter. Buying it from the water co is almost certainly the moneysaving option, and could be the green and ethical option too.

Similar here, I worked for the Welsh Office, Environment Division, Water Regulations, even toured some sewage treatment works when the country finally took treatment sensibly in the 90's.

I find it really hard to waste water, even in Wales where we have no shortage of rain and catchment, you still need to consider treatment, even if only basic, and all the work to supply it, maintain pipework, leak control etc.. Ideally most water supply and sewage removal is gravity 'powered', but there is still some pumping involved.

Such a shame to waste potable water for gardening, or even excessive washing when you consider how valueable the product is and how scarce it is in many areas.

Only through chatting (no force used I promise) I've encouraged most of my neighbours to go onto meters, and they've all seen nice reductions in their bills, though one with extensive flower gardens did install multiple water butts to minimise mains watering - their bill has halved, our is about 1/3rd of unmetered rate.

michaels

Ectophile said:

michaels said:

Water is not a finite resource, when we use it is not lost forever - if we were willing to invest more in storage and treatment then it would never run out it might just cost fractionally more per unit.

For example lets assume the water is extracted form the local river and then once treated returns to the same river - if you use more waiting for your tap to run hot or cold it makes no difference to the overall river flow, a very small amount of energy is used in the processing and pumping but very small compared to your overall carbon footprint.

That doesn't help if your water supply comes from a reservoir or a borehole.  Once they have been sucked dry, there's not a lot you can do to get more water before the next winter.

In the past when the population increased we built more reservoirs, now we just tell people they need to use less water each.  I would be willing to pay the extra cost to use as much water as I needed.

Reed_Richards

michaels said:
... I would be willing to pay the extra cost to use as much water as I needed.

Even if your home was in the valley that they wanted to dam to build the reservoir?  

michaels

Reed_Richards said:

michaels said:
... I would be willing to pay the extra cost to use as much water as I needed.

Even if your home was in the valley that they wanted to dam to build the reservoir?  

It would be pretty hypocritical of me to object to this.  This is not the only example of people having to give up their homes for a project that is for the good of many.

elljay

Thank you for all the responses to my initial query, some interesting points and food for thought. As well as feeling totally uncomfortable to be running water away I have a meter and the thought of that money running away  too also goes against the grain!!  After the downpours of the last few days my water butts as well as the spare bin I use for collecting water, are all absolutely full and the garden thoroughly soggy.  I'm going to have to resort to a jug in the fridge for drinks though - just me obviously but I do so like freshly drawn tap water.

Thanks again

Mistral001

As has been said, it has little to do with the mixer tap itself.  The cold and hot water pipes often run together and the hot pipe heats up the cold one.  The problem can be helped by insulating the hot water pipe if there is a big enough gap between the two pipes and if you have access to them.