Water saving techniques

Hosepipe bans in the UK

It was announced this week that the North West region of England will be under water use restrictions from midnight on Friday 9th July 2010.  This is the first region-wide “hosepipe ban” as it’s commonly called for four years.  Last time it was the Thames and parts of East Anglia that had the restrictions.  Whilst it has happened before in the traditionally wetter North West, it is perhaps the most surprising that this region has been “hit” first.  It was only in the late Autumn last year that parts of this area were actually under water, from serious flooding.  Is this an indication to future events, as the UK’s water becomes under more stress from increased populous and climate change?  Or is it simply part of natural variations?  Either way, it is very serious if things get worse.  Not washing your car or watering your grass is hardly life threatening, but alarming reports suggest that significant rainfall until October.  Could we see more serious cuts to the most basic of supplies?

Saving water

We all waste water or perhaps we use more than is really necessary.  For example, does the car really need a weekly wash, just to impress the neighbours?  Do you really need that full bath or 20 minute shower?  Could you wait for a full load before turning on that washing machine?  Does the grass need to be watered?  Grass is very hardy and even when completely brown for weeks, will turn green at the first sniff of rain.

Saving water and having a laugh

I arrived home from work and it was very overcast overhead and it was raining a small amount.  It looked like a heavy shower was on the way.  My car was very dirty and in a desperate need of a clean.  It seems that every old car garage or car car dealer has turned into a handwash car cleaning company, charging £5 or so.

Instead of waiting for a dry day, getting out a bucket of soap, hot water and hose pipe, I decided to clean it there and then.  Here’s what I did, I simply used a sponge and went around the car removing the dirt and letting the rain (now getting heavier) to wash off the lose dirty water.  Whilst the result wasn’t exactly a showroom finish, it took only a few minutes and no doubt I have saved somewhere in the regions of 500 litres of mains water.   I also saved the £5 as well.