Have I really consumed this much water? [Oh, and part one of markdude has no life >.>]

[Dude84]

I recently received a water bill, such a lovely occasion this was. Anyway, that is not what has been perplexing me since.

What is perplexing me is that I have apparently used/consumed 7,000 litres of water in five weeks. I am a single person living in a one-bedroom flat, which has a shower only (no bath) and lacks a washing machine, never mind a dishwasher.

I have read that a ten minute shower uses two-hundred litres of water [O.O] and that brushing one's teeth uses about eight - I can't accept this being true in my case, as I use an electric toothbrush and only run the water for a couple of seconds intermittently to rinse it - together with flushing the toilet requiring sixteen litres of water [O.O] and washing the "pots" about seven also [O.O].

Admittedly, I really don't have a life otherwise I wouldn't be starting a thread about a water bill, but how is this possible? Such "consumption" equates to over 1,000 litres of water per week.

So... does anyone have any thoughts on this? Do you know how much water you consume? Do you ever read your water bill or do you just pay it by direct debit and swear when you receive the paperwork to inform you how much you are about to be charged?

Any input appreciated. *Blushes at apparent lack of having a life*.

 

[chevre]

Last month I used 490 gallons of water, or about 1850 liters. I'm single and live alone in an apartment with a dishwasher, full bath (though I only use it for showering so far), and washer/dryer.

So uh, yeah . To be fair, I was out of town for probably 2 weeks of that. So consider it 1850 liters for two weeks, I guess.

I try to be pretty resource-conscious, but I mean I'm not going overbaord doing it, so I dunno.

 

[tedster]

I also recently received a nice letter from my friends Severn Trent, according to it I've used 20000litres in 200days, 100L/day!

Shocking.

Similar to markdude, I'm on my own - 2 bed appartment, no dishwasher, shower etc..

Admittingly I have a shower at least once I day, but no more than 10minutes a time. Washing machine is used once/twice a fortnight; I don't constantly run the water when I'm cleaning my teeth; the dish washing gets done every other day or so.

I much prefer my summer gas bills, less than £5/quarter!

 

[ajsco]

You should come live in Scotland, we only have to pay £82 a year (flat rate), and you can use as much as you want :tongueout:

It's riduculous that you should pay so much for water - WE'RE A GODDAMN ISLAND!!!

 

[Peachy]

You should come live in Scotland, we only have to pay £82 a year (flat rate), and you can use as much as you want :tongueout:

It's riduculous that you should pay so much for water - WE'RE A GODDAMN ISLAND!!!

I wanna see you drinking a tea made from the water your island is floating in. :tongueout:
Besides, how's that 82 quid-a-year type of water delivered in Scotland? Via clouds?

Oh, and if you shower 5 times a week at 200 liters per shower, you've already racked up the 1,000 liters a week, mark. That doesn't account for tea, brushed teeth or washed pots/pans.

Peachy

 

[h3g3l]

You should come live in Scotland, we only have to pay £82 a year (flat rate), and you can use as much as you want :tongueout:

It's riduculous that you should pay so much for water - WE'RE A GODDAMN ISLAND!!!

Delivery costs 1p.

It's the desalination that costs the remaining amount.

If memory serves, desalination is a really good option... if you can afford the up-front costs of building a desalination plant. Here in the USA, we may not have a choice for much longer, as we've dropped the water table an incredible amount in the past ~20 years or so.

Oh, and if you shower 5 times a week at 200 liters per shower, you've already racked up the 1,000 liters a week, mark. That doesn't account for tea, brushed teeth or washed pots/pans.

Aha! Tea! There's your missing water, Mark.

 

[bobbyjeff]

Check around for a leaky toilet or dripping sink as well. It may not seem like much, but it can add up.

Just be glad you don't have a yard to maintain. I can easily go through several thousand gallons a month just trying to keep it alive in July and August.

 

[Darkfinn]

If you think you are using too much water... go find your water meter. If there is nothing on in the house then the meter really shouldn't be spinning. If it is spinning, you may have a leak.

 

[kevindhca]

There are plenty of way to reduce the amount of water you use.

First, check everything for leaks, just a drip adds up to a lot of water over time.
Second, make sure all faucets have low flow water restrictors on them, and install a low flow shower head.
Third, displace some water in the toilet tank, try filling a two liter pop bottle with water and place it in the tank where it will not interfere with the flush valve.

Saving water doesn't cost very much, and clean potable water is a rare thing in a lot of the world, so less going down the drain is a good thing.

Watch the water use and see if your water consumption goes down.

 

[h3g3l]

Saving water doesn't cost very much, and clean potable water is a rare thing in a lot of the world, so less going down the drain is a good thing.

This is a good point; something I know that I've discussed (IRC? Skype?) in the past few months.

Why do toilets not use "grey water" but instead favor potable water? Frankly, I don't think my turds require fresh, clean water in which to bathe nearly as much as I do.

 

[Dude84]

You should come live in Scotland, we only have to pay £82 a year (flat rate), and you can use as much as you want :tongueout:

It's riduculous that you should pay so much for water - WE'RE A GODDAMN ISLAND!!!

That's just not fair.

There are plenty of way to reduce the amount of water you use.

First, check everything for leaks, just a drip adds up to a lot of water over time.
Second, make sure all faucets have low flow water restrictors on them, and install a low flow shower head.
Third, displace some water in the toilet tank, try filling a two liter pop bottle with water and place it in the tank where it will not interfere with the flush valve.

Saving water doesn't cost very much, and clean potable water is a rare thing in a lot of the world, so less going down the drain is a good thing.

Watch the water use and see if your water consumption goes down.

I haven't noticed a leak, and although my meter doesn't spin (it's one of the newer, digital versions) the numbers match the reading from when I moved in (first reading on bill) to the date of the bill (second reading).

It just seems like alot of water. >.>

I've heard about "toilet bricks" that do essentially what you've just described. The water company used to provide them for free *must enquire*.

Thanks for your replies.

 

[Sila]

I have well water, so I dont have to worry about water bills ^-^ I just get nasty tasting hard water that has iron particles floating around in it...

 

[Dude84]

I have well water, so I dont have to worry about water bills ^-^ I just get nasty tasting hard water that has iron particles floating around in it...

Can't you filter that?

 

[Darkfinn]

You can... and should... filter well water. Especially these days.

As far as the toilet goes... just use it less. I have no doubt that my water bill has gone down significantly since I began wearing 24/7. Of course my diaper bill has gone up...

 

[Dude84]

You can... and should... filter well water. Especially these days.

As far as the toilet goes... just use it less. I have no doubt that my water bill has gone down significantly since I began wearing 24/7. Of course my diaper bill has gone up...

Surely that has got to be a more expensive alternative though?

 

[dcviper]

If it's brown flush it down, if it's yellow let it mellow... That should save some water.

I also have well water, but with all the agriculture in the area, IDK how long that is going to be a viable option.

@Sila : BRITA PITCHERS! Thats what I use at home for both cooking and drinking.

@h3g3l : With all the thermal power plants along our coasts, you'd think it would be relatively easy to use waste heat (i.e. post turbine but pre condenser) to operate flash type evaporators.

 

[TOAccountant]

Ya waterbills are crazy! I picked my appartment because all utilities are included so no big shocks and I can use water and energy without being charged more (I try to reduce for enviromental reasons but not having to worry about the cost is nice)

 

[Darkfinn]

Surely that has got to be a more expensive alternative though?

It is definitely a more expensive alternative. But we weren't talking about cost... we were talking about conserving water.

 

[Sila]

Can't you filter that?

tell that to my cheap as heck mom. "Filtering costs too much money, live without "

 

[Darkfinn]

tell that to my cheap as heck mom. "Filtering costs too much money, live without "

Tell your mom cooking costs money too... surely you can eat your meat and vegetables raw and be just fine.