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Old 17th March 2014, 08:06 AM
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Default 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?
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Old 17th March 2014, 01:37 PM
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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.
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Last edited by notorious; 24th March 2014 at 08:07 PM.
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Old 25th March 2014, 12:03 PM
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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
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Last edited by roberto; 25th March 2014 at 12:05 PM.
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Old 25th March 2014, 12:07 PM
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Quote:
Originally Posted by roberto View Post
dont forget you get charged for water IN then water OUT
Not always. Water OUT will depend on your sewage/drainage configuration and there are various reductions available.
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Old 25th March 2014, 12:23 PM
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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.
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Old 25th March 2014, 01:33 PM
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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.
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2001 D2 4.2 QS Silver, 1997 D2 S8 Silver, 1999 D2 4.2 Silver, 2002 D2 S8 Dolphin Grey,
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2000 D2 S8 Silver, 2007 3.0 Tdi Q7 Black, 2009 B8 S4 Black, 1998 D2 S8 Agate Grey,
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2011 A7 Sline, 2001 A2 1.4 Tdi Black, 2002 A2 1.4 Tdi Silver, 2006 A8 4.2 Tdi Blue,
2007 4.2 Tdi Q7, 2006 S4 Cab Silver, 2010 RS6 Saloon Black , 2007 TT Roadster,
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Everything Else

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Old 25th March 2014, 01:47 PM
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How big are your IBCs?

How long do you think they last?

I'm thinking of two behind the garage.
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Soft close Doors & Boot, Electric Blinds, Keyless Entry & Start, Bluetooth HandFree, Quad Zone Climate, APS+, 3 Spoke Sports Tiptronic Multi Function Steering Wheel, Heated Seats All Round, Black Leather Comfort Seats, AMI, Sunroof, Drivers & Passenger Electric Memory Seats, Auto Dimming Mirrors, Bi-Xenons AFS2, Dab, Digital TV, Reversing Camera, AV Inputs, Fridge, Solar Roof, TPMS, facelift rear lights, 3G, remote boot closure, Tow Bar.
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Old 25th March 2014, 01:54 PM
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Quote:
Originally Posted by ScottB5 View Post
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....
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For parts enquiries and Forum User Administration please contact customer services directly, not me - enquiry@a8parts.co.uk, www.a8parts.co.uk, or call 01642 783537

The Daily Town Car - 2023 Tesla Model Y Performance. Black with Black. Giant ipad screen, huge sunroof, 4 wheel drive, Tow bar, lots of ooomph and made in China, so actually built properly unlike the Californian ones.

The Family Wagon - 2018 Tesla Model X. Black, 7 Seats, Towbar, Homelink, Enhanced Auto pilot with Summon and self park, Heated front seats, CCS Charger upgrade, MCU2 Upgrade, Falconwing Doors, Self opening / closing doors, Netflix, Spotify, toys, Air suspension, alcantara roof + lots of other stuff......

The 17 year old Driver Wagon 2015 Skoda Citigo Monte Carlo. Alloys, Power steering, Aircon, Leccy windows, Sat Nav, bluetooth, central locking, cup holders, 59 whole bhp. Million times better than my first car. Well jealous.....

The First 20 Audis:

2001 D2 4.2 QS Silver, 1997 D2 S8 Silver, 1999 D2 4.2 Silver, 2002 D2 S8 Dolphin Grey,
2003 C5 RS6 Blue, 1998 D2 S8 Black, 2000 D2 4.2 QS/S8 Ming Blue, 2003 D3 4.2 Ming Blue,
2005 B7 S4 Blue, 2006 D3 3.0 Tdi Black, 1999 D2 4.2 Silver, 2003 D3 4.2 LPG Crystal Blue,
2000 D2 S8 Silver, 2007 3.0 Tdi Q7 Black, 2009 B8 S4 Black, 1998 D2 S8 Agate Grey,
2006 D3 4.2 Tdi Blue, 2006 D3 S8, 2007 Q7 3.0 Tdi, 2006 C6 S6,

The Second 20 Audis:

2011 A7 Sline, 2001 A2 1.4 Tdi Black, 2002 A2 1.4 Tdi Silver, 2006 A8 4.2 Tdi Blue,
2007 4.2 Tdi Q7, 2006 S4 Cab Silver, 2010 RS6 Saloon Black , 2007 TT Roadster,
2010 A8 D4 4.2 Silver, 2006 C6 A6 2.7 Tdi Quattro, 2000 D2 4.2 QS/S8 Ming Blue (again), 2008 Q7 4.2 Black,
2009 C6 RS6 Saloon Daytona Grey, 2001 Fully Loaded A2 Tdi, 2006 Avant S6 Black, 2007 VW Caravelle Exec Black (almost an Audi)
2009 TT Roadster Daytona, 2015 Q7 4.2 tdi lava grey, 2002 GmbH D2 demonstrator, 2006 D3 A8 LWB 4.2 Tdi Black

Most Recent Audis:

2001 A2 1.4 Tdi Black, 2007 4.2 FSi Q7 ABT Blue, 2016 S5 Coupe Launch model, 2004 S4 B6 Cabriolet, 2016 Q7 Sline White, 2006 Q7 4.2 FSi Black, 2012 Q7 Sline+ 4.2Tdi White, 2008 Blue Audi S8

Everything Else

1989 Subaru Justy, 1986 Vauxhall Cartlton 2.0 GL, 1985 Vauxhall Carlton 2.2 CDi, 1987 Ford Sierra XR4x4, 1983 Vauxhall Senator, 1985 Vauxhall Senator 3.0i, 1997 Polo Saloon, 1997 Peugeot 306 1.9 TDi, Ford Sierra Sapphire 2000E, 1990 Subaru Justy, 2000 Subaru Impreza, 2000 Subaru Impreza RB5, 1993 Range Rover LSE, 2005 VW Bora, 2003 Skoda Superb, 2003 VW Passat V6 4 Motion, 1996 Peugeot 106, 2000 Range Rover 4.0, 2019 Tesla Model 3 Performance
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Old 25th March 2014, 01:58 PM
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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.
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06 3.0TDI Quattro:
Options:
Soft close Doors & Boot, Electric Blinds, Keyless Entry & Start, Bluetooth HandFree, Quad Zone Climate, APS+, 3 Spoke Sports Tiptronic Multi Function Steering Wheel, Heated Seats All Round, Black Leather Comfort Seats, AMI, Sunroof, Drivers & Passenger Electric Memory Seats, Auto Dimming Mirrors, Bi-Xenons AFS2, Dab, Digital TV, Reversing Camera, AV Inputs, Fridge, Solar Roof, TPMS, facelift rear lights, 3G, remote boot closure, Tow Bar.
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Old 25th March 2014, 02:11 PM
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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!
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