Time to fit a water tank and start catching your rainwater. Use that to flush and clean the boat, car and water the garden.
Yep couple IBC water grade a few months back.. even thu not on the Auckland Metropolitan supply so no restrictions here.
We are town supply bore with high mineral which is a pain when washing cars , boats , house windows etc.
.. And being lime, effects jugs, hot water systems shower walls etc.
Total cost for couple tanks, piping , a household pressure pump, down pipe and spouting fittings came to around $750.
The 3 major costs the alcythene pipe fittings and the pump ( latter $230)
Tanks 2 X $100 each.
Tanks must be 1m off the boundary and if wish to connect to house..laundry, toilets you need resource consents and permits..And a water meter, non return valves and estimate well over Another $2.5k for resource, permits and stuff.
Which in a water shortage, that for all intents and purposes looks like going to be permanent if add up climate change, lower rainfall, expansion of population, poor and lack of infrastructure,
To add such costs that then take it up (guesstimate) around $1500/200 doesnt make any
sence
To wash the car/ute takes around $75 to 100L
Wash boat and rinse motor in 1/2 200L that is already 1/2 full around 170 to 200L
We wash cars, boat, gardens, water blast house , clean windows, paths etc and general wash stuff (smoker racks, filleting benches etc with the garden hose.
Note here, the pump gives far better pressure than town supply, Big plus espec washing boat and trailer.
Also top up spa pool and swimming pool.
So far in the last 3 or 4 months (rainy season not) had to fill up 1 tank from swimming pool (which is mostly rain water now, plus 25ml Cl per 1000L) to keep up with usage.
Big warning thu...
You see ibc tanks stacked... thats ok but do not open valves so top thank and bottom tank are joined AND both tanks full. The head height (NOT weight) of water causes the bottom tank to seriously swell.. sides out and top rise enough to shut off the air breather in the bottom tank lid, against the bottom of the top tank.
For now, I manually fill the bottom tank once a week or so.
So crunch numbers.. bit like putting in solar (which we also have recently done)
Details here
https://wslpwstoreprd.blob.core.windows.net/kentico-media-libraries-prod/watercarepublicweb/media/watercare-media-library/fees-charges/domestic_waterww_other-charges_2021-2022.pdf
Domestic from july,
Fixed charge of $247/yr
Water: $1.706, including GST/ 1000L
Wastewater $2.966/1000L 78.5% of usage.
So if I have this right..
78.5% of 1000L is 785L @ $2.966/1000L .
(785X 2.966 ) /1000= $2.331/1000L of water measured on water meter.
$2.331 + $1.706 = $3.047 per 1000L thru the meter.
This makes , off top of the head about 250 tank fulls to recover capital cost... roughly 4 or 5yrs
Guesstimate here.. A washing machine uses arounds 120L per wash.. 4 washes per week 500L
Toilets 9L (?) 50 flush per week (?) 750L
Thats about 1250 /week About $50 month.
$750+ resource consent , permits plumber to sign off etc, Say $4K plus total
About 80+ months, 7yrs..
please check the figures numbers etc.
So is it worth it?
Well considering infrastructure, growth issues, are you confident of continued constant supply? 25ml / 1000L of around 20% chlorine (swimming pool grade) and cant taste at this level you have drinking water if needed.
We have issues arising with small toilet fills, washing machines, dishwashers resulting in less 'flush' watre going down waste drains... rsult far higher chance of blockages.
We have so called flushable things flushed.
A very slack monitoring and enforcement of fats being flushed.
So save on water, less flushing of wastewater systems, increase in blockages , espec of systems in need of infrastructure maintenance and upgrades.
Bit of rock and hard place here.. if connect to laundries, toilets, maybe hot water systems, one can use far more water to flush your waster water systems ???
You will not find a lot of the stuff openly published by government or councils...talk to plumbers, some council ppl in the know, the odd media background reports on council/ government papers and presto.
Not everything, again is fully transparent, thu its not hidden either.
Why did we make the call for tanks?
Main one was clean, non mineral water for cars, windows etc.. dont have to dry off to stop water spots etc..
'Work hard at being lazy'
Also have independent supply, in the back yard, just in case things , supply turns to custard. peace of mind
And very similar reasons why put solar on the roof (14 panels) .. cant afford batteries, another $14K. Solar supply during sunlight, doesnt work if power cut. Hence kept the gas hob, and water heating)
Bill is about 1/3 $ in summer, around $ 1/2 in winter..
Anyway hope this is of some help for those seriously going a little 'independent'