[Bangbang]

I have an I.B.C. tank which we use for water storage. It is filled from the guttering from
the goats shed. for the first time since installment it has ran dry. We use it to supply our
sheep paddock. I do have other means of water obviously but I am now thinking of
increasing storage capasity for the summer, so saving water has now become a priority.
I do have a private water supply.

Every now and then I have a pee outside (saves water and leccy)

More water saving suggestions would be helpful.

[Small Farmer]

You can't beat IBCs for cost effective water storage.  I think we have six, all black, plus a 5000 litre underground water storage tank that was stupidly expensive by comparison. 

This time of year we should be full, but the big tank is empty and the others are about half full.   

We run the loos and washing machine off the big tank when its in use.   It isn't necessary to flush every time unless you have visitors!

[bloomer]

i believe the phrase is

if its yellow let it mellow, if its brown flush it down!!!

[tizaala]

bucket and chuck it

[robert waddell]

possibly a move to Scotland could alter your water catching ideas
some parts have had 90 inches of rain
the last time there was a drought was the summer of 76 with Donna summer playing in background  good hay and silage was made that year beautiful golden straw   truly a summer of love

[aliceinwonderland]

Ahhh saving water... Here in Aus we know all about it!
We have two 20,000L tanks, plus a few smaller ones (all filled with rainwater from the roof of our house, carport and two garden sheds), and a bore. One of our tanks is specifically for grey water. We're also on town water, but we have quite an extensive garden and because of watering restrictions we use our own tanks to water the garden, vegies and chooks.

One of the best things to do is to hook up all your grey water to a tank. If the plumbing is too ridiculous to fix the whole thing up, then just bring a bucket or two along with you every time you have a shower - once you're done, let it cool, and then stick it straight on the garden! The same can be done for your laundry - stick your washing machine hose into a bucket rather than the drain, and use the run off. It would probably help to use environmentally friendly soap, especially if it's going on areas of the garden that either you or animals will be eating. If it's general water usage all-round that's also a problem, put half a brick in the cistern of your toilet - that way it's always a 'half' flush. Also keep showers to under 3 minutes, and install a water-saving shower head. Using a dishwasher is actually more water-efficient than doing dishes in the sink.

Ummm that's all I can think of for now, but I'm sure more will come to me! Saving water is something that comes naturally to a lot of us Aussies...

[Bangbang]

My location is in Aberdeenshire, and usually we do get more than our
fair share of water - but this month has been the occational quick shower.
No heavy down pours.

So I'm preparing for the predicted drought

1976 was a good year I got my first 10 geared bike

[deepinthewoods]

my first memory is of 76, i was 4 and managed to get from the tiny flat in hereford were we lived and down to the river wye. they found me sat in the middle keeping cool in about 3inches of water.

[robert waddell]

there were a few firsts in 76 

[deepinthewoods]

well it was hot, hot, hot!!!!

[colliewoman]

It was the best year ever all the best things happened then (go on guess when I was born )

[Fleecewife]

<<   Every now and then I have a pee outside (saves water and leccy) >>

Yes but BangBang it's a terrible waste of pee    Best thing is to do it on the compost heap - it's the best compost activator known.  It's a bit undignified for ladies, but we can use a bucket 

[Lesley Silvester]

Ah 1976.

I visited the Isle of Arran (Scotland) for the first time and fell in love with the island (eventually lived there for eleven years) and yes, there was a water silage.  We were camping on a friend's family farm.  The water supply which was spring fed, dried up so we had to resort to using the well and boiling every scrap.  I was pregnant with my eldest so had morning sickness every morning.  Every day we walked down to the nearest village where there is a bakery and bought a loaf hot from mthe oven to eat that night.  It was laways half gone by the time we reached the other end of the village.  I had indigestion every afternoon.  When the rain eventually came, I stood outside in it and got soaked, face turned up to the sky.

I remember 1976. 

[Ina]

This thread seems to have morphed into "1976 memory lane"! 

Anyway, like Bangbang I'm in Aberdeenshire, if at the other end of it, and at least on the coast it's been quite dry.

My tip for water saving:
I use the bath water (don't have a shower - council house!) for flushing the toilet - after I've pre-washed the most dirty clothes in it (in the bath water, not the toilet - just realised it sounded weird!)... This triple use also means I don't feel too bad about wasting water for a bath. However, if the council in their wisdom had supplied the house with a shower, I'm sure it would be possible to catch the water in a shallow tub before it disappears down the drain.

And in case you wonder why I bother saving water, as I don't have it metered and the tap never runs dry - well, I've been brought up not to waste it, and I never will, not matter where I live...

To add to this: Don't know whether that's possible in your set-up - but at home (a long time ago) we always caught all the water from  the washing machine in buckets, tubs etc. Good for the loo, again, but we also carried it out into  the garden in dry summers!

[robert waddell]

water meters     Ina if your area has had the pipe system upgraded     cast pipes replaced with plastic and the lead pipe to the house replaced  there is a fitment that is installed at that replacement programme
all they do is screw the meter on when they decide to go meter