Let's Re-hydrate Zakynthos
Saving Water & Power
OK. So it rained. But the global water crisis hasn't gone away. Neither has our own local crisis. The water that is piped to us is still undrinkable; The tests we have had done have declared it unsuitable for anything at all, not even irrigation. And there is no published time scale for when it will be better. Plus it rots everything it touches.. pipes, fittings, rubber liners, showers kettles...... enough.
We ALL need to do everything we can to preserve the water we have got, hopefully allowing the aquifiers (underground lakes) to refill and dilute the disolved contaminants. We can do this by making better use of it and minimising it's use. On these pages are a few ideas that can help.
In the meantime, using 'harvested' water economically where you safely can means your household demand for safe drinking water is reduced, enabling the use of a 'whole house' Atmospheric Water Generator.
Saving Water
Flushing the toilet is a big user of water, - up to 16 liters each flush, but there is a lot you can do to make water go further.
In addition to the above you could install a new cistern which incorporates a dual flush and has a hand washing sink on top. The used hand washing water is then directed into the cistern, effectively using the water twice. Options available from Amazon.
You can also reduce the amount you use by installing a dual flush button in your cistern, which allows a half flush when suitable. If you cant afford this, put a large stone or brick in the cistern to reduce the water usage.
Please see our section on Water Harvesting to take saving to the next level.
Imagine how much water could be saved if hotels and restaurants used this system
A simple and effective way to save water is to stand in a large bowl when you shower. The saved water can the be used to flush the toilet.
Water Harvesting
We are going to talk about re-directing or 'Harvesting' water
Installing guttering around your roof allows you to collect rainwater and direct it to a storage tank. The is just one way of Rainwater Harvesting. The saved water can the be used for irrigation and by placing the tank so that the outlet at the bottom is higher than the inlet to you toilet cistern means that once again toilet water usage can be addressed.
Options available from Amazon and Thintanks
Grey Water Harvesting is different. This can involve directing the waste water from the bathroom wash basin and shower to a filter and then into the storage tank above. This water is still suitable for irrigation and toilet flushing. We wouldn't recommend using the kitchen sink water as it has too many waste food particles in it.
Interesting Note ! A Spanish Hotel installed a Grey Water Harvesting System in 1995, way ahead of their time. They diverted all wash basin and shower water to a tank in the basement, filtered it and re-circulated to flush all the hotel toilets. Over that last 30 years they have saved hundreds or thousands of euros.
System Optimisation
This is not as difficult as it sound. Just look around your property and see how the water system is installed, and look for ways to make it better.
Do you have a Solar Hot Water system, heated directly by the sun? How far is it from the hot water tank to your tap? How much water do you waste waiting for the hot water to arrive? Is it possible to move the tank closer or reduce the distance by re-routing the pipe?
Does your system us a cold water storage tank and a water pump? Is it possible to raise the tank. If your property slopes it may be possible to move the tank high enough to use gravity to feed the water eliminating the pump, saving electricity every time you run water. Or maybe it's possible to put it on the roof. (Consult an engineer to make sure it's not too heavy ).
A large proportion of your hot water will be used in the kitchen. In the winter, would it be more economical to use an under sink instant water heater? This could save on water and also reduce the use of an immersion heater, saving Electricty