It was a shock to read our water meter and discover that our
consumption had almost doubled this year.
How much water have you used this long hot summer?
The bill was certainly is a wakeup call, but what can we do,
or should we do about it? After all it was extremely hot and dry for a long
period and many were forced to water their plots more regularly than normal. So,
will our usage return to normal next year? However, due to increased demand we
increased the water charge element only a couple of years ago.
Many take the provision of water as a given and because they
pay a universal charge for it in with their rent assume it will continue to
flow and we can afford it. This assumes all summers are the same which they are
not and that the current charge covers costs which some years it does and
others it does not.
I now look at a row of sheds below my plot and see that none
of them are capturing any rain runoff. I look at rainwater butts on some plots which
have not been used and wonder why? Perhaps it is too easy to draw water from
the many mains fed water tanks we have instead.
The mains tanks are only a couple of plots away from any
plot which begs the question on both their numbers and the convenance of
access. In one area there are three half plots and two full size plots being
served by 4 tanks which is surely questionable. They are old lead tanks and are
refilled by ballcocks, so water does not overflow and refilling is controlled.
Water also remains switched on all year round. Is this wise
given it is hardly needed between October and March? Should we close off half
or all tanks over Winter and if we did, would it make much difference? We could
cover the tanks and lock them, so no access is possible. Should we reduce the
mains pressure such that refilling takes a lot longer and so prompts less being
drawn?
Should we insist on rainwater collection on all new sheds
and encourage its adoption on all existing ones? Some may argue that the cost
of guttering and fixtures plus a butt is too much and they are better off with
even a higher universal charge, but is this sustainable and wise? But if mains
water were further away or pressure reduced would this encourage a different
viewpoint?
Then there are those who simply fill an old 10 litre old
paint bucket which can only be applied by literally tipping it all out and flooding
areas and not selective watering plants. We already ban hose pipes and water
irrigation systems that tap into mains water, but should we ban plot flooding
and enforce using watering cans?
Last year as part of refurbishing the trading shed we
installed a spare tank to collect rain water and this water is now used to
water the new community greenhouse and plants and those around the pavilion.
This year we can do the same with the pavilion and this should provide significant
water but in the wrong place for many plots and only service one site. However,
this could be a winter supply but again only applicable to one site.
There is then the issue of soil improvement to retain
moisture. Should we educate and expect everyone to fully or take a more active
engagement in composting, adding manure and other bulking materials? As we now have
the wide adoption of raised beds we must recognise these may dry out quicker
and need more water and so potentially add to the issue of demand.
There are certainly no quick answers.
It is only correct that we pay for what we use. It is
impossible to police the use of mains water and impractical and illogical to
meter individual tanks. So how do we reduce the use of mains water and promote
rainwater collection and more sparing use of water altogether?
