Some helpful tips to easily reduce your water charges

WHEN thinking about the burning issue of water conservation, a little divine inspiration may be useful.

The students of Building Services Engineering at Waterford Institute of Technology began the new term with a visit to Longford Cathedral, which is under reconstruction after a devastating fire in 2009.

But while most visitors admire the exterior, some of the most impressive aspects of the job are out of sight like the rainwater harvesting system that will use the water freely supplied by the heavens to flush toilets and supply other areas where treated water is unnecessary.

The big issue with water supply in our buildings commercial and domestic is that the water has been chemically treated to make sure its fit for human consumption, but yet we waste it by using it in the toilet or on the garden or washing the car, says course leader Tom OBrien.

With a rainwater harvesting system, the rainwater is collected and diverted through a filtration system and then up to a pump that feeds it into the toilets. In the average house, about a third of waster use is in toilets, so it makes sense.

And its not just to the clouds we should be looking our sinks, showers, and baths are another ready source of reusable water.

We dont use this grey water very much here. In the UK they would use it more and a typical application would be again flushing toilets, washing cars, watering the garden. It needs filtering but itsessentially clean water, and so long as it doesnt go into the drinking water, its OK to reuse.

This kind of system isnt particularly new and its not rocket science, but if you dont need it by regulation or by being affected in your pocket, most people dont do it. The result is its a little bit expensive but the more theres a demand for it, the more price will come down.

Such systems best suit new builds, and although its possible to retrofit an existing house, the reality is most householders will be looking to more modest modifications to help them save on their water bills.

First, says Tom, get to know your loo. If your toilets were installed after 2001, its likely you have a conservation-conscious six litre cistern, although even that could be made more efficient by converting it to a dual flush system allowing a choice between a full flush and a three-four litre flush, enough to wash away number ones and probably many number twos too.

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Some helpful tips to easily reduce your water charges