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Thread ID: 124379 2012-04-23 08:43:00 recycling water - worth it or not? globe (11482) PC World Chat
Post ID Timestamp Content User
1271403 2012-04-23 08:43:00 Was reading pine o clean post about water retention tank and it got me thinking. Putting ethical reasoning to one side is it really worth retro fitting tanks to collect water for use on gardens etc? I mean water is pretty cheap in nz currently anyway.

Any thoughts?
globe (11482)
1271404 2012-04-23 09:21:00 It makes sense if you on a water meter or in an area where the likelyhood of a dry period is going to cause a supply shortage. One consideration of using you bath and sink water is that it is grey water and many councils frown on that being put on the gardens, something you need to check first with your local council.

Of course another use of recycling water is the availabilty in the event of a fire! Many times have fire brigades drained swimming pools, ponds etc to supplement a mains supply where the pressure only allows a limited pressure and applaince to work from. Take that into consideration and yes its worth it.
coldfront (15814)
1271405 2012-04-23 10:51:00 Makes sense to save at least the water off your roof for garden/lawn watering also car washing as it is least likely to water stain your car through mineral content
Can either be done cheaply or expensive with a complex system

In Aussie I don't think you can't build without catching your roof runoff

In Tauranga/Mount over 10 years ago they made water meters compulsory as alot were wasting water,you use you pay.
Now they have the situation were people have cut their use to the extent they are raising the water charges as it is not paying for it's self

One thing is for sure water won't get any cheaper
Lawrence (2987)
1271406 2012-04-23 10:59:00 Not convinced totally.To see up a system it'd cost in the region of 500 I reckon, even more if you add a pump to the system. I reckon without looking at bills etc that'd be at least 10 years payback for garden watering etc.

Total guess all of that of course
globe (11482)
1271407 2012-04-23 13:00:00 Well we're just starting building our new house in area where there is no town supply for water.
Going to have two 25,000 litre tanks to catch rain off the roof.
Cost for the concrete Tanks alone is about $7,000!
Then you've got the pump and drain pipes etc.
CYaBro (73)
1271408 2012-04-23 22:47:00 Well we're just starting building our new house in area where there is no town supply for water.
Going to have two 25,000 litre tanks to catch rain off the roof.
Cost for the concrete Tanks alone is about $7,000!
Then you've got the pump and drain pipes etc.

i think a new build its a no brainer, especially in your situation where you don't have town supply !!!
globe (11482)
1271409 2012-04-23 22:50:00 In Tauranga/Mount over 10 years ago they made water meters compulsory as alot were wasting water,you use you pay.
Now they have the situation were people have cut their use to the extent they are raising the water charges as it is not paying for it's self

Probably more swimming pools in tauranga than anywhere else in nz too
Gobe1 (6290)
1271410 2012-04-23 22:53:00 If you're on town supply I see no point in it, all water is recycled naturally anyway unless it leaves the planet. And I wouldn't want to eat anything grown in a garden watered with the runoff from my house full of detergents and soap, shampoo, and who knows what else. dugimodo (138)
1271411 2012-04-23 23:06:00 If you're on town supply I see no point in it, all water is recycled naturally anyway unless it leaves the planet. And I wouldn't want to eat anything grown in a garden watered with the runoff from my house full of detergents and soap, shampoo, and who knows what else.

Ever looked at what you buy commercially from the supermarkets etc ? I reckon that'd worry you more than a little bit of palmolive !!

Things like detergents and soaps are well know for their whetting abilities and to help with pest control.
globe (11482)
1271412 2012-04-24 00:05:00 I got a 1200 litre tank hooked up to the roof use for the washing machine only. In the summer sometimes I have to top it up with town water. prefect (6291)
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