GardenBanter.co.uk - View Single Post

sacha · 17-07-2013, 09:37 AM posted to uk.rec.gardening

On 2013-07-17 09:07:34 +0100, said:

On Tuesday, July 16, 2013 3:17:40 PM UTC+1, Sacha wrote:
On 2013-07-16 14:53:05 +0100, Broadback said:

On 16/07/2013 14:35, Spider wrote:

On 16/07/2013 09:46, Sacha wrote:

Yes, I know I've banged on about 'thank heaven we put the borehole in'

but....a few weeks ago the pump broke down and it took a week to get

another and fit it. During that week, we had to use mains water and last

night Ray told me it cost £500! So it is indeed 'thank heaven for that

borehole'!! I believe our water board is one of the most expensive in

the country but even so! Think of how much we must all cost ourselves if

we waste any - taps left running during teeth brushing, letting it run

down the sink while waiting for it to heat are just two that come to

mind.

That sounds like a difficult -and expensive- week.

We both try to be very good with water. When there's a hosepipe ban I

collect all the water from cleaning veg and salad stuff ... collect cold

'hot' water (iyswim) ... collect the cat's stale drinking water and even

cooking water if there's no salt in it. It is then used on plants that

are particularly stressed. I also keep a bucket of fresh water outside

for the cats to drink, so that's a good drenching for some poor plant.

It really does make a difference. In fact, I should be doing it now,

because I'm sure we're overdue a hosepipe ban. Bustles off to find

bucket .....

Well Sacha, after all it is a business, you will no doubt claim it as
a tax expense, which will reduce the cost somewhat. The
government recognise that the SW of the country have high water
costs, and purportedly are doing something about it.

As regards car washing and hose being synonymous the major
supermarkets have car washers that use virtually no water, they
seem to make a good job.

I must check whether we can claim it against taxes though that
doesn't actually help at the time! We use mains water in the house
and are very careful about how much of that we use, too and yes, I
hope the government or SWW does do something about it but that
doesn't help in the past or the present, either, for us or anyone
else. I'm not having a grumble because these things happen, pumps
break and in our case plants have to be watered, or it's a disaster.
What I'm aiming to show is how expensive water is and how much many
of us take it for granted as 'free'. And we very, very rarely wash
our cars at home but go to the local Morrisons car wash. That was
expensive last time as Ray started filling my car's diesel tank with
petrol. But that's another story!
A small amount of petrol won't do a diesel any harm. Lorry driver's
used to do that in the winter to stop the diesel waxing.

Jonathan

We've had varying opinions on that. One said just as you do, others
said moving it would have done great damage. So we didn't move it, a
man came out, sucked out the petrol, flushed it through with diesel,
re-filled it with diesel and took a cheque for just over £100 plus the
cost of the diesel!
--

Sacha
www.hillhousenursery.com
South Devon
www.helpforheroes.org.uk