Easy Water Saving During Water Shortage

Easy Water Saving During Water Shortage

Global warming and rising sea levels, yet a water shortage. As the earth heats up and the ice caps melt, the sea levels start to rise. This results in hose-pipe bans and a situation of “water, water everywhere and not a drop to drink”!

After every long winter, the warm and sunny weather finally arrives – together with hose-pipe bans for many of us. I am lucky to live in an area that has not banned the use of hose-pipes. Yet very conscious of how much water I use since I have a water meter. I would like to be able to say that my concern is only for the environment, and that does matter to me. Also the amount of my bills is a factor that is rather more important at the moment. I already have three water-butts and 2 plastic dustbins for storing rain water, but they do not last very long when you are watering thirsty runner beans.

I have started to save my shower water! You could say this is recycled water, otherwise known as “grey water”. Examples of these are bath or shower water, washing up water or water from your washing machine. You can use this water in your garden for plants and shrubs.  With an exception to your fruit and vegetables. Since this water saving method may have chemicals from the various soap products. Also, if you want to save the water from your washing machine, then you need to change to non-bio washing powder or liquid. Washing up water needs to be filtered first. You can do this by pouring the saved water into a watering can or bucket through an old pair of tights (is there no end to the use of old tights?)

So, my shower water is now collected & saved instead of going straight down the drain. But he has done it in a way that means I can re-divert back to the drains during the winter. I should add that I live in a bungalow, so this has not been too big a job. Because of this, I managed to save about 50 litres of water per shower.  Enough to water my shrubs and plants that are not established and whose roots have not yet grown down far enough to obtain enough moisture by themselves. I have never thought it worth watering the lawn, although I realise some people want their grass to be green, not patchy and brown like mine.

Don’t put a container nearby drains. Since nobody wants to carry watering cans through your home, there is a gadget now available from many gardening stores. This is called a “drought buster”. This is basically, a length of hose-pipe with a “bulb” near one end. This uses atmospheric pressure to draw the water up from the bath and through the hose pipe. A few squeezes of the bulb will start the water flowing. Pipe connectors can help lengthen the hose if needed.

I know you can also purify water with certain plants. After I’ve watered the garden with the saved water i think I’ll look up my books to see which reeds will clean up the water from my washing machine – then I’ll be able to top up the pond!