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[I_want_an_Omega]

Have any OOFers actually done this? The reason I'm asking is that our (metered  ) water bill is a significant amount each month - which if you think about it, the vast majority of it goes down the loo.

Ok, there will be a one off cost of butts/tanks/pumps etc - but after that I'd expect a significant reduction on the monthly bill.

It won't work for everyone of course - but I was wondering what any actual experience was - as opposed to opinions  .

Thanks

[Plomien]

I don't see why not, once you have it installed then it should save you some money
its just the switching between live mains and the water storage in case of a dry summer ( )
They tend to do similar in hotter countries on recycling bath water etc maybe worth looking at the options they use

[I_want_an_Omega]

With the monthly bill being £50  for 3 of us then I'd be hoping for a significant reduction. That's more than:

1) The electricity bill
2) The phone/broadband bill
3) Double the mobile bill for SWMBO & my mobile ............

Sort of puts things into perspective ............ 

[Varche]

Sounds a good idea and for many Spaniards in the countryside was the only water unless they had a spring.

You need to do a calculation on storage v requirements. Over here the damn tanks go up in a more or less equal arrangement with number of cubic metres.

We went to Cyprus a few years back. Very impressed with their arrangment in houses etc. They have three taps. Hot cold and non drinking water. The latter is for flushing toilets , watering your garden and washing cars , cleaning paths and so on. That requires some plumbing changes.

I have always had a concern that unless your storage tank is clean and capped, that the water could get contaminated with not nice human results. I wished we had had a giant (75 cubic metre underground tank ) built when we first arrived here. Too late now. We have access to a couple of wells so not really an issue and have a 2 cubic metre tank purely as a back up.

Our mains water bills are about 70 euros a year for about 200 cu metres. Funny water is cheap here (till austerity kicks in I guess) 

[OOMV6]

It's a good idea. I would think that the plumbing changes in your house would be the biggest cost.

You can get a few tanks like this even if it just for flushing toilets, garden watering and car cleaning. http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/IBC-TANK-1000-LITRES-WATER-TANK-/251127963557?pt=UK_BOI_FarmingEquipment_RL&hash=item3a78649fa5

The pumps don't cost the earth, but ensure you research the specs on pumps. The power varies and some are better at sucking whilst other blowing out the other side. Excuse the innuendos Point being, is location of pump in relation to tank is important
I have family living in Spain who did what Varche wished he had done. They have a 45,000 litre tank under the garden. Reason for this is no mains water in the isolated area and they get water delivered by lorry like we have heating oil delivered. Their pump is inside the house, so obviously a good sucker - 2 pumps run the whole (big) house.

In your case, even if you were to do a simple setup of tank, pump and filtering system (very important) for the basic needs already mentioned, you'd save quite quickly.
It is what I have started to do. Have one tank and pump so far. Plumbing for me is easy as I can access most in the cellar.
I have already started using the rainwater for the garden. Collected 1000 litres in a a very short time in the very wet season so all plant watering this summer has been free.

[tidla]

With the monthly bill being £50  for 3 of us then I'd be hoping for a significant reduction. That's more than:

1) The electricity bill
2) The phone/broadband bill
3) Double the mobile bill for SWMBO & my mobile ............

Sort of puts things into perspective ............ 

Scandalous amount to pay.  Water is one of those industries which should never have been privatized. At least with the gas network you can see them replacing the old mains with new plastic as a leak would be of obvious concern.

Not so with the water, if you only knew how much just leaked back into the ground before it got to you...

[omega3000]

How much are we talking here for a pump or pumps 

[Martian]

With the monthly bill being £50  for 3 of us

I think you are being f**ked up the ar$e without the benefit of any KY.

Our metered water bill is £22 a month on average and that is for a family of 4.

[waspy]

£50.00 for three of you There's three in our house & my bill's half of that.

[hoofing it]

The most inportant thing this system needs is a uv light you could rig up a diy system cheap enough.
My work installed a 13000L tank and the uv light lamp itself cost £100.
Over the last 3 years they have used  around 230000 litres of rain water so the savings are worth it if your metered.

[tidla]

Is there a way of testing your supply for a leak?

[I_want_an_Omega]

Thanks for feedback ............

A pump seems to be about £70 or so, so not too bad. I did look at using an IBC - but, the problem with them is that they would freeze if outdoors. I have a cellar - but the entrance isn't big enough for an IBC to fit. You can get 1/2 sized ones but they are rare 2nd hand and expensive new.

We did have a leak which has been fixed, so the exact usage is settling down. Three adults with daily showers, washing machine and dishwasher used every day (sometimes twice). We also have a lot of weekend visitors.

I dont understad the significance of the UV light. What's it for exactly?

[Taxi_Driver]

I dont understad the significance of the UV light. What's it for exactly?

I have a UV lamp in my pumped water for my pond.....i believe it would be for the same reason......it helps to stop the water turning green with algae...

[albitz]

Got four water butts here,the water from which is used for the garden and washing cars etc. Dread to think how much it would add to the water bill (metered) if those jobs were done using tap water.

[omega3000]

The most inportant thing this system needs is a uv light you could rig up a diy system cheap enough.
My work installed a 13000L tank and the uv light lamp itself cost £100.
Over the last 3 years they have used  around 230000 litres of rain water so the savings are worth it if your metered.

Seems expensive for a uv lamp