Hi Busy-Lizzie,I'd probably fall over and break my neck! I only shower twice a week, when I wash my hair. Weirdly, says on the site for SE water, you aren't allowed to do what Fire does and use a bit of hosepipe to get the grey water out. It would have to be an absolutely huge bowl,I only have a quick shower (classic 3 minutes) and it's surprising how much water that yealds. A lot of the time I have to sit in bathwater (because of a medical problem) I use a lot less water than the shower.
I bath as well, normally (better for soaking the achy hip joints) and I also use less water than a shower, tested by showering with the plug in the bath. It's amazing how quickly it fills up. I've toyed with the idea of putting a diverter in the downpipe from the bathroom but it's thinner than a regular drainpipe so the ones I use for those wouldn't fit. I'll give it more thought if we get a hosepipe ban and my butts run dry.
Doncaster, South Yorkshire. Soil type: sandy, well-drained
@Nanny Beach why don't you stand in a large bowl when showering? Easier to collect the water.
A flexible Tub Trug might be the answer @Nanny Beach. They come in various sizes and even if it was too heavy to lift out after showering, it would be easier to scoop from and you could lift it out and pour the last bit? The genuine Tub Trugs are more flexible than the cheaper copies. I have them in several sizes and use them a lot for washing things in. (I've no connection with the company of course.)
Same here Jenny, I use very little water showering, but a lot less in a bath, just a couple of inches. We do have a big flexible trug(hanging baskets soaking as we speak Hubby had a shower,we collected 5 watering cans full of water....that's gone on the baskets in the trug.
We do this every summer,to save water and money. We e bang opposite the South Downs,they keep the rain clouds off....it can be raining 2 roads away. Our daughter is just 10 minutes away,and has had several storms this year,rang me, could I sleep through the storm...what storm! If it does rain,I shall be belting outside,and showering in it!
I have a question please. Due to his major cancer surgery and my joint problems, we use the submersible pump to water through a hose from water butts. If syphoning grey water is illegal, will this be too? Our butts are quite full atm.
I have a question please. Due to his major cancer surgery and my joint problems, we use the submersible pump to water through a hose from water butts. If syphoning grey water is illegal, will this be too? Our butts are quite full atm.
No you'll be fine, you're using your own collected rainwater.
I would question any legalities about using bathwater too. I think any case of someone syphoning used bathwater out and putting it on the garden would be laughed out of court. I certainly wouldn't stop doing it.
As an aside on some houses it's possible to uncouple a waster water pipe externally and divert it into a butt. You need to be quite good at DIY and know what you're doing though.
@Penny_Forthem your rainwater is your own resource and using it however you want has no detrimental impact on the rivers and watercourses or reservoir levels, so there is no legal or ethical reason you shouldn't use it however you want. You may find your neighbours are quick to judge though, so I'd advise a little discretion, if you're overlooked.
Our water supply is entirely off grid, as is that of all our neighbours. We have to use our own judgement about whether or not our various supplies can cope with us using it for watering flowers
Gardening on the edge of Exmoor, in Devon
“It's still magic even if you know how it's done.”
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Hubby had a shower,we collected 5 watering cans full of water....that's gone on the baskets in the trug.
Due to his major cancer surgery and my joint problems, we use the submersible pump to water through a hose from water butts.
If syphoning grey water is illegal, will this be too?
Our butts are quite full atm.
I would question any legalities about using bathwater too. I think any case of someone syphoning used bathwater out and putting it on the garden would be laughed out of court. I certainly wouldn't stop doing it.
As an aside on some houses it's possible to uncouple a waster water pipe externally and divert it into a butt. You need to be quite good at DIY and know what you're doing though.
Our water supply is entirely off grid, as is that of all our neighbours. We have to use our own judgement about whether or not our various supplies can cope with us using it for watering flowers
“It's still magic even if you know how it's done.”