Cable Forum - View Single Post - Re-Usable Water

Taf · 04-03-2012, 13:53

I would never drink roof-collected rainwater unless it had been treated, birds poop on your roof you know! The cost of boiling to sterilise for other purposes would not be cost-effective either. But as grey water it's ideal for car washing, plant watering, etc.

I fitted guttering around our brick shed, the downpipe feeds into 2 water butts that then supply me with water for the fish pools (ideal as there is no chlorine or heavy metals in it) and garden. You can buy attachments for your house downpipes that allow collection for water in butts.

The water will stagnate, especially if "wildlife" gets in it, but I just make sure I use it within a week or so, so that it is still "fresh". A few drops of washing up liquid will break the surface tension, killing any mossie larvae that get in as they won't be able to breath at the surface. The lack of surface tension also makes the water ideal for hanging baskets, pots, etc. as it will "wet" the compost easier. NO detergent for the fishpool water storage though!!!!!

I empty the butts and leave the taps open during the winter to prevent freezing damage.

04-03-2012, 13:53	#2
Taf cf.mega poster Join Date: Jun 2003 Location: Kairdiff-by-the-sea Age: 68 Services: TVXL BBXL Superhub 2ac (wired) 1Tb Tivo Posts: 9,812	Re: Re-Usable Water I would never drink roof-collected rainwater unless it had been treated, birds poop on your roof you know! The cost of boiling to sterilise for other purposes would not be cost-effective either. But as grey water it's ideal for car washing, plant watering, etc. I fitted guttering around our brick shed, the downpipe feeds into 2 water butts that then supply me with water for the fish pools (ideal as there is no chlorine or heavy metals in it) and garden. You can buy attachments for your house downpipes that allow collection for water in butts. The water will stagnate, especially if "wildlife" gets in it, but I just make sure I use it within a week or so, so that it is still "fresh". A few drops of washing up liquid will break the surface tension, killing any mossie larvae that get in as they won't be able to breath at the surface. The lack of surface tension also makes the water ideal for hanging baskets, pots, etc. as it will "wet" the compost easier. NO detergent for the fishpool water storage though!!!!! I empty the butts and leave the taps open during the winter to prevent freezing damage.