[noshed]

Sorry Americans.
When I got to my plot last night I found I'd been left an old wheeley bin, by I presume either the council or the ghost of Geoff Hamilton. It's just the job for a water butt - they're huge with a big opening (crikey).
I've put it near the fence and propped one of my corrugated plastic sheets in it hoping that will help it fill up quickly if it ever rains.
Hooray for the council, all those trillions in council tax are worth it...
I must get on with my siphon system now. I'll take some pics soon.

[John]

You deliberately titled this to give me a heart attack
I thought the pesky Russians were back.

What gets me is that there is probably some factory manager sitting around wondering what on earth to do with all those blasted barrels at the back of the factory.

[noshed]

A 240L butt for nothing - off the council. Hooray for Dot,  our site secretary!,

[GrannieAnnie]

Lucky old you!!!!

[John]

I don't know how you're coping with hosepipe bans - I thought we'd had more rain in the NW but the soil is bone dry on the surface.

We had a house built in 1938 that had a big water tank fed from the gutters  with the outlet being a tap in the kitchen. Apparently this was to provide soft water for clothes washing.

If something similar was done in modern houses, bet you could reduce water consumption by a chunk.

[Jake]

I don't know how you're coping with hosepipe bans - I thought we'd had more rain in the NW but the soil is bone dry on the surface.

We had a house built in 1938 that had a big water tank fed from the gutters  with the outlet being a tap in the kitchen. Apparently this was to provide soft water for clothes washing.

If something similar was done in modern houses, bet you could reduce water consumption by a chunk.

Too true, a reduction in council tax in relation to the amount of water your property can collect and reuse. Margret Moran here I come.

[twysted1]

the amounts of GREY water that could be saved by households is incredible. the water companys charge more for your waste water than they do for your fresh water.  the last time i heard they  work out what sewerage rates to charge by estimating that you will pour away 90% of the water you use. all water used for bathing ,showering,washing pots,  washing machine, dishwasher blah blah blah can be used to water the garden or as fluid in a solars still heating system. instead people insist on using clean water for everything. i'm sure if people had to walk 500 yards to collect there water they would be a lot more conservative with it all. i mean what is it all about when people flush the toilet with 4 gallon of drinking water to get rid of less than half a pint of peee. rant over.

[Oliver]

4 gallon of drinking water to get rid of less than half a pint of peee

You know the old saying if it's yellow, let it mellow. If it's brown, flush it down That about sums it up, hey? Makes sense.

[mellowmick]

if it's yellow, let it mellow. If it's brown, flush it down. That about sums it up, hey? Makes sense.

Reminds me of the Frank Zappa track 'Don't eat the yellow snow'

[SweetPea]

Another quotation not working :?  There's a " missing around 'Oliver', but I wouldn't have thought that would have made that much difference...

Is it a bug in phpBB? :o

[Jake]

I think its just when the original quote is edited, one delete key too much.

just my 2penneth

[SweetPea]

I think its just when the original quote is edited, one delete key too much.

just my 2penneth

You could well be right (*hopes my quote works*)

[hermon]

totally agree with the water thing, when i rinse veg/fruit or my hands i try and catch the water in a saucepan or what ever is lying about and water my patio pots, its amazing when you do this how much i must waste every day! i don't know how to re-direct my sink water so it goes in something outside to save for the garden, we use all ecover stuff, washing up liguid and clothes washing so it wouldn't be to bad for the plants.

[Oliver]

""there's been bits missing here for years :shock:
To quote hermon on the water thing - she collects any water in the from rinsing and so on in the sink to water her pots, but the 'grey water' she lets go down the plughole because it is all recycled any how by the water works. Fatty/washing up water doesn't sound nice on plants long term to me. But then I like to drink the bird's water... and any water in drip saucers ...

[hermon]

am i on the right thread or is this thread for birds?, very clever birds to type!!