Water Saving Devices

[HereOnThePrimalEdge]

Many of us, maybe most of us live on catchment, so anything we can do to save water will help especially during dry weather conditions.  With El Niño expected this summer we could experience warm and dry conditions.

Here’s a fixture that allows you to wash your hands as the toilet tank fills:

   

There are several versions available in the US:
Sink Twice
SinkPositive

With the Toto seat lid (Costco has them on sale from time to time) you can also save paper.  If a hurricane is on the way, you’ll only need to stock up on rice and drinking water.

[leilanidude]

Never understood how folks in Puna can run out of water, even if a drought lasts 6-8 weeks unless they have massive leaks or entirely undersized catchment systems. If that is the case, spending $150+ at a time to have water hauled to you, doesn't take long to add up to the cost of a long-term solution: adding more storage capacity or fixing the leaks.

[Durian Fiend]

Never understood how folks in Puna can run out of water, even if a drought lasts 6-8 weeks unless they have massive leaks or entirely undersized catchment systems. If that is the case, spending $150+ at a time to have water hauled to you, doesn't take long to add up to the cost of a long-term solution: adding more storage capacity or fixing the leaks.

$150 once in awhile is a helluva lot cheaper than several thousand for a larger tank.  Families, animals,  a lot of laundry needs -the demands add up.  But yeah, our water usage is quite modest.  The most I've ever seen my 6900 gallon tank depleted was minus 20% at the most.  Alas, it has had a minor leak for a couple years and I've postponed replacing the liner.  Of course, fixing the leak requires draining the tank.  It's a double hassle, man!

[Punatang]

Here’s a fixture that allows you to wash your hands as the toilet tank fills:


   

There are several versions available in the US:
Sink Twice
SinkPositive


Mahalo for the blast from the past Edge.  The first time I ever saw one of those was decades ago.  It was high up off the ground in the lua that served Linda Beech's famous Waipio Treehouse.  The treehouse was built by Eric Johnson and Steve Oldfather who were boat builders.  The unique (at the time) toilet was chosen out of space concerns and not for saving water.  The treehouse and entire property with several residences were supplied with abundant naturally pressurized H2O, as well as a surplus of electricity, via a 183 foot waterfall which was on the property.  The lua was on a landing on the stairs up to the little tree cabin.  

   

[HereOnThePrimalEdge]

Never understood how folks in Puna can run out of water,

And yet there are multiple companies that operate water hauling services, which at certain times run 4000 gallon trucks from dawn to dusk keeping Puna catchment tank systems from running dry.

Here’s a little more on how you can conserve water.  There are dual flush toilets, which use less water or more water when necessary.  I’ve seen some with two side by side buttons on the tank cover, this one is on the side, up for more, down for less.  Also note the bowl which only contains a liter or so of water, not a gallon or gallons.  Its design makes it just as effective.

   

[leilanidude]

I’ve seen some with two side by side buttons on the tank cover, this one is on the side, up for more, down for less.
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Have those in the North of Austin house. I didn't choose them, they were already installed by the previous owner. I honestly cannot tell the difference in the amount of water used.

[terracore]

Many of us, maybe most of us live on catchment, so anything we can do to save water will help especially during dry weather conditions.  With El Niño expected this summer we could experience warm and dry conditions.

Here’s a fixture that allows you to wash your hands as the toilet tank fills:



There are several versions available in the US:
Sink Twice
SinkPositive

With the Toto seat lid (Costco has them on sale from time to time) you can also save paper.  If a hurricane is on the way, you’ll only need to stock up on rice and drinking water.

We've had a sink positive for 14 years. They are expensive considering it's a flimsy piece of plastic with a spigot coming out of it, but it does look pretty much the same today as it did when it was new.  At the time there were no competing products we could find in this country. I got it because one of the bathrooms in this HPM kit house is just a toilet and a shower stall.  I wanted a sink and this was an instant plug-and-play solution.

Never understood how folks in Puna can run out of water, even if a drought lasts 6-8 weeks unless they have massive leaks or entirely undersized catchment systems. If that is the case, spending $150+ at a time to have water hauled to you, doesn't take long to add up to the cost of a long-term solution: adding more storage capacity or fixing the leaks.

I never understood that either.  We have the standard 10,000 gallon tank and even when we had cattle (heavy drinkers) along with our goats and sheep we've always had plenty of water even through the droughts.  The only time we got low was when we discovered a leak from the tank. We got it fixed within a day and haven't had a problem since. I think some people have leaks and just don't realize it.  They can be anywhere between the downspout and the drain. A lot of people think if they don't hear the pump running they don't have a problem.  A leak is just as likely to be before or after the pump.  We've actually fixed four leaks in 14 years, 2 in the house and two before it.  Two of them were due to improper installation when the system was originally installed, so one shouldn't assume that because their system is new it isn't leaking.

[Durian Fiend]

I never understood that either.  We have the standard 10,000 gallon tank..

One primary explanation is right there in your second sentence.   Many people have tanks no where near that big.

A family of 6 near me has a tank no larger than 2,000 gallons.  Actually I think it's less.  And yet, they never get water delivered.  They are very thrifty for starters, and if need be they haul water in one of those ubiquitous 250 gallon tanks in the back of a pickup.

[Punatang]

With the Toto seat lid (Costco has them on sale from time to time) you can also save paper. - Edge

If the goal is to save water, wouldn't the use of the bidet cancel out the nifty toilet sink?  Like on average?  

I guess the question is -  are we trying to save water for the planet, or are  we saving water just for our personal situation like catchment tanks or water bills? If we are trying to save water for the planet, then I would bet that the bidet wins as long as the user doesn't get too comfortable, so to speak.  The process of manufacturing of toilet paper seems like it would use more water and resources overall, but I have not done the research.  It's just a hunch.  But, if we need "water saving devices" to conserve our catchment tank capacity, then I don't think the Toto bidet from Costco is a very good suggestion.  JMO.  What happens with that thing once it's discarded anyways? Landfill?  Leave it for he next generation to deal with?

If you are keen to save water for both your catchment and the planet, as well as cut down on all of the resources required to deliver either to your bathroom, then you might consider just growing wolly plectranthus outside of your bathroom window or as close to the house (or outhouse) as possible.

      

Now that is a water saving, energy saving, planet saving, money saving, next generation saving "device" indeed.  It smells minty too.

https://www.capitalfm.co.ke/news/2024/12...let-paper/

[punikahakaiferret]

I have always loved those lua-top sinks! First saw one waaaaaay back in the '80s at a jazz club in Denver. Thought they were the most amazing idea ever and swore someday I would have one. Then I got here and saw how expensive it would be to try and get a proper porcelain integrated one sent here, not like the janky plastic aftermarket ones I've found online.

Thanks for sharing those!