petition for water recycling

I have just noticed this petition on the

http://petitions.pm.gov.uk/save-rainwater/

A petition to require all new buildings to encorportate the collection of rain water for local use.

Think this is a good idea.

 

A very sensible idea!! We were talking about that just recently - think it was Liz who suggested it.

Thanks for pointing it out, Percy!

Noticed when signing that the final date is 16th Feb - so skates on, folks!

 

Have completed it - but heard a comment from the government in respect of petition signed by over 1,000,000 re road charging. What they said was "strong views expressed by a large number will not necassarily change government policy"

A bit hyprocritical, considering the number of times they have changed policy with just a tad of newspaper publicity.

 

Its a bit vague as to how the water will be used or have I as usual missed something?
The other point is, at the moment the run off goes into the ground or into the drainage system, pesumably keeping up the water table or keeping the rivers flowing, if large amounts of water is collected at source, what effect would this have on the natural cycle of things?
Are we just talking about the odd water butt or massive underground tanks?

 

I don't think the amount of water collected from roofs would have a significant impact on the water table, to be honest. Much, much more must surely go into rivers and storm drains from roads farmland and the countryside in general.

What really annoys me is the profit made and the VAT charged on collection systems. I had a publicity leaflet this morning which offered me a 1600-litre underground tank with pump etc. for the bargain price (BARGAIN, mark you!) of almost 1000 euros - about �£650!!! Surely (since local authorities already sell composters on a not-for-profit basis) they could do the same for water butts and other collection systems.

Or at the very least, they could be zero-rated for VAT. How long would it take to recoup �£600+ on your water bill?? Longer than a lifetime, I suspect.

Can people write to their MP's (I can't - I ain't in the UK any more!) But surely if there's a water supply problem causing hosepipe bans with drier summers we ought to take advantage of the supposedly wetter winters?

I'm thinking of getting a septic tank to store water, though I do have a well or two to fall back on. I bet it'd be less than the 1000 euro kit. A submersible pump can cost as little as �£30 here, too, so I could even bury the tank!!

[ 28. February 2007, 06:14 PM: Message edited by: Hyla-arborea ]

 

The water that is collected could easily be used for watering the garden , washing the car or piped into the toilet - cause none of these uses need the expensively cleaned up water they presently use - the toilet, I think, is the main consumer of water.
Water that runs off roads and roofs does not generally get on to the ground and into the water table. If it did reach the ground it would move slowly through the soil and rock, replenishing the water table. What happens is that the water is quickly dropped in to streams and rivers where it cause short term, damaging floods. This water cannnot be utilised because a large volume hits the river system for a short period of time, so it basically causes flooding and then is lost out to sea. To utilse rain water you need it to reach the river system slowly so that the rivers rise over a longer period and to not such a high level. That is why if you build towns or cities over a river's drainage basin or you have farmalnd with highly efficient drainage you cause the rivers to flood.

 

Also in many places the run off from rooves is fed into soakaways as opposed to the drainage system.
That water does help to keep the water table topped up.

 

But these collection systems usually have mechanisms which divert rainfall water back to the soakaway or house drain when the container is full - so only a proportion is retained. Are you suggesting that we shouldn't collect some of the rainwater, Pete? What do we do instead? I can't see most of us using a composting toilet!

On the subject of pricing, I've just checked builders' merchants, and I can get a 3000-litre septic tank for �£300 - half the cost of the system they're trying to sell for gardens - and twice the capacity! And even with that, the manufacturer, retailer and taxman are all taking a cut. Do you agree that these water collection containers should be less expensive? At the moment, the cost makes them a luxury to salve your eco-friendly conscience, perhaps. It's not easy being green!! (Thanks, Kermit!) :D

 

At the moment only very few people collect rainwater and even then its in relativly small amounts.
If all the millions of houses had rainwater collection tanks of fairly large capacity, and lets face it unless these tanks are large it wouldn't be worth the effort,it would, I think, make a significant difference to the water table. Especially if we are to believe, during this particular deluge, that drought will become more common.

 

I note that most of this thread relates to new residential properties having rainwater collection and encouraging existing homeowners to collect too.

I would suggest that another critical area is new/existing industrial units doing likewise and to provide the water for toilets, washing of vehicles etc.

 

I know as gardeners we have a responsibility to be sensible in taking water out of the piped system. But all of my waste water goes back into the piped system. I give the water board back whatever I use, and then pay them to clean and transport it. Isn't is about time they got their act together and looked after the water better?

Also shouldn't the meter pricing system reflect the used/returned ratio ? i.e that put into the ground against that put into the sewers. People get credits for putting electricity back into the system, why not water?

Think the petition is good all the same. New houses are built on cost not enviro friendliness, and this is not the way forward.

:D :D

 

Anyone else heard of the International Rainwater Catchment Systems Association? They've been around for over ten years now, and I know research has been done in Japan on urban rainwater harvesting. Unfortunately since I'm not a member I can't access the research paper, so I've emailed them to ask for their comments. Will keep you posted if I hear! (My specific query was about Pete's concerns about the effect of large-scale collection on the water table.)
Watch this space!!

But BM - that rally car jumping up and down at the bottom of your post doesn't look very eco-friendly..

BTW for those in the midlands, Severn Trent sell 160-litre water butts with stand and fittings for �£39.95, or 100-litre for �£34.95. They also sell composters for �£10. Are these decent prices?? (I'm a bit out of touch with UK prices now! )

 

Nor is my real life one at 17-25 mpg :D

 

Ah, well, BM - it still does a bit better than my Jeep Cherokee with a 1750kg caravan on the back...!!!

 

:eek: My car only weighs 1440kg ! ahh, but think of all the air miles your not contributing too :D