Water Storage for Washing Cars.
 

Being on a water meter I'm a little bit loathed to wash the car and after reading this thread it got me thinking about getting a water butt and running the jet washer off it.

I got some space at the back of the garage that I'm thinking of using for a couple of water butts.
I can divert the guttering from the garage into the butts and then a pipe out to the jet washer.

But I'm wondering about filtering out any bits in the water that could damage the washer or paint, also how well will my little karcher washer do dragging the water from the butts, up the path and out to the drive way.

How many of your are using rainwater to wash your cars and what's your setup for the storage and getting the water to the car?

I have 650 litre tank. I fill the tank when there is no ban from tap. I use the water from tank during the ban. The tap remains closed during the ban because I have taken water from the system, paid for it and put it to tank when it was allowed.

Don't wash my car with rainwater.

Edit: 650 litres is enough to wash car 10 times with a pressure washer.

look
 

flushing toilets is expensive
washing cars is expensive
dont forget you get charged for water IN then water OUT


so if your on a water meter look at these..........

http://www.rainwaterharvesting.co.uk/



http://www.rainharvesting.co.uk/products/filters

Not always. Water OUT will depend on your sewage/drainage configuration and there are various reductions available.

One thing at a time. lol

I was just thinking of something simple at first for washing the car and then maybe, I might go up to using rainwater for the toilet.

But for now, IBC in the back garden with water to wash the cars. done. lol

Thanks for the links though.

I used 4 IBC's for my rain water collection. Infinitely cheaper than the bespoke solutions from the specialist websites.

If you're collecting off a roof, filtering is important, it tends to pick up grit from somewhere, somehow.

I found though, that the grit settles nicely at the bottom of the IBC, so providing you draw off a couple of inches off the bottom you get good clean water. Simples. +++

How big are your IBCs?

How long do you think they last?

I'm thinking of two behind the garage.

I had 4 x 800 liter inside the garage. They did washing machine, hosepipes and toilets. Washing machine gobbled loads so lasted about a week from a full fill.

I didnt want them outside as I wasn't sure how they'd do in freezing conditions, and unless you cover them they'll grow algae etc in the sunlight I guess....

I had a dedicated Grundfos 2 bar pump on the back of them that fed water at near-mains pressure everywhere.

All past tense as I got miffed this summer with the lack of rain and constantly topping them up. I had better uses for the space in the garage so took em out. Still got all the kit, just disused....

I'll cover them up with something. Not sure what yet.
Still at the design stage.

Shame you're not closer. Could sort something out if you was up for passing them on.

Up here in the West of Scotland we just put the buckets outside for a few minutes, and there you go - full of rain water! Even more simples! :D