The wash your MTB and save water challenge

[dev null]

this is the look I'm going for

 

http://dreamatico.com/data_images/desert/desert-3.jpg

 

Well, my one garden looks like that almost. The rest is not far behind. What is funny is that the flippen weeds are growing like crazy.

[Wil6]

We here in the Free State have been on water restrictions since July 2015. You should have been here in November to see what a drought really looks like

[Rouxenator]

Sadly most water that gets wasted is due to pipe bursts, not consumers 

[Serious Panda]

You Cape Town people are only complaining now. We here in the Free State have been on water restrictions since July 2015. You should have been here in November to see what a drought really looks like

 

My money is on the WC taps running dry before the Free State taps.

[Wil6]

My money is on the WC taps running dry before the Free State taps.

We luckily had some rain the past month, but we are still far from safe. 

 

#prayforain

[Patchelicious]

I've figured it out.

 

When my bike gets dirty, I just send it in for a service.

 

Comes back clean.... problem solved.

[LazyTrailRider]

sorry a bit off topic here -

 

so my question on the JoJo tanks is this. In Cape Town it rains in winter so tank gets filled up and doesn't get used. In summer when there is no rain, and you use the water from the tank 2500 litres is not going to last very long?

 

I'm busy looking at a few rain and greywater options at the moment, to irrigate my garden (plot roughly 500sqm) through a summer without rain will require around 15,000L. I was planning to put a 5000L tank behind the house, but am now rather going to install a self-pumping greywater system.

[coppi]

18 - 21k L as total is also a big boat load of water.

You think?

Family of 4, share the bath water 2+2

Only flush toilets for #2

Never water garden, fill pool or wash cars bikes ( that is why I have bothered with a jojo )

Very water conscious and never let the tap run/trickle for too long

What else must I do?

Oh and this is ALWAYS, not just during water restrictions.........had my JOJO installed when I replaced gutters in 2013

[popcorn_skollie]

Nice to see others saving water. Some peoples total disregard for something that affects us all is quite shocking. Dams in western cape were at 40% collectively this morning. The ones on the coast are 'ok' for now. We just have to keep doing our part to make it through the rest of summer. But inland its quite bad.

 

Some of the other municipalities have already implemented water restrictions. I know we're at level 3 in the greater Cape Town. Level 2 Saldanha. I think Stellies is on level 2 as well. 

 

Although these restrictions might as well be called suggestions. Not everyone seems to be taking it seriously enough. At least not until they start shutting off the supply. Its like we haven't learned anything from load shedding. 

 

I could toot my own horn too. On the farm we only have storm water. No sewage. So septic tanks for the toilets and separate ones for the baths, showers, sinks and washing machines. Grey water is collected in flobin tanks which is hooked up to a filtered pump system. From there a valve switches between a fire hose and the sprinkler system. The grey water is fine for re-use. Grapes are coming on nicely and even cabbages are popping up again. Which is a little unseasonal. 

[dev null]

At least the scientists says that we are moving into an El Nina period, and that we can expect an unusually high winter rainfall. Lets hope it pans out, else we are in big dudu.

[Serious Panda]

At least the scientists says that we are moving into an El Nina period, and that we can expect an unusually high winter rainfall. Lets hope it pans out, else we are in big dudu.

 

Other scientists say this is part of climate change caused by pollution and that we are at or even past the point of no return.

[Dexter-morgan]

The past week-end I washed my Double cab and bike with water I caught up from my house gutters, my "jojo" tank only holds 500 liters but I do my bit.

[Tim Brink]

Bike only gets washed with bottled water, preferably Evian Sparkling, because I care about the environment and water restrictions. 

Laurent Fignon was waaaaaaaay ahead on this. 

 

[Hairy]

timed my shower the other day - 1min 30 sec. And I switch off water while applying soap/shampoo

same ... also stand over a bucket when the water is running and use this water in the garden where I can ... mostly on the edible plants.

[Hackster]

sorry a bit off topic here -

 

so my question on the JoJo tanks is this. In Cape Town it rains in winter so tank gets filled up and doesn't get used. In summer when there is no rain, and you use the water from the tank 2500 litres is not going to last very long?

 

I've struggled with this problem. I reckon there's a 'golden ratio' between roof size (catchment) and garden/house requirements. Smaller houses like we live in now have neither the roof size nor the space required for multiple tanks to be able to make the most of rain water.

 

Decentralized water treatment has been punted as the future solution for water efficiency. So your house would have a system that allows for filtration and re-use... of all water consumed. And you would pay a great deal for top-ups.

[Hairy]

I've struggled with this problem. I reckon there's a 'golden ratio' between roof size (catchment) and garden/house requirements. Smaller houses like we live in now have neither the roof size nor the space required for multiple tanks to be able to make the most of rain water.

 

Decentralized water treatment has been punted as the future solution for water efficiency. So your house would have a system that allows for filtration and re-use... of all water consumed. And you would pay a great deal for top-ups.

there is a formula somewhere (Just have to find the bloody thing) for calculating gutter and downpipe sizing and requirements for a roof size. 

 

you will be amazed at just how much water a roof can deliver.

 

when we last had a sprinkling of rain in CT we were unfortunately out the house, and only got home at the tail of the rain.....set up pool noodles to two of our gutters and channeled this into big plastic bath tubs, started filling up very quickly .... dug out the old kiddies swimming pool and go this to half full with what little rain was left.

 

I find this article interesting.

http://www.capetownpartnership.co.za/2009/10/reclaim-camissa/