WFH? Your fault..

[Snooky]

tri, or rect ??

Or possibly East?

[d000hg]

there is not enough water.

There wasn't enough water in last winter either so it isn't the weather.

This water company are:



https://www.theguardian.com/environm...r-hosepipe-ban

A water company has blamed more people working from home post-pandemic for a new hosepipe ban.
South East Water, which supplies more than 2m homes and businesses, will impose the first hosepipe ban of the summer on Monday, affecting households across Kent and Sussex.

The company’s chief executive, David Hinton, said that people working from home was a “key factor” behind the ban, as it has “increased drinking water demand”.

I have seen this story a few places, do they ever offer an explanation why this leads to greater usage? I could see urinals save a lot of water on toilet trips but on the other hand, people WFH probably use measurably less water showering on average. I can imagine where the water is used might shift away from towns to be more widely spread out so perhaps different sources are being hit?

[vetran]

I have seen this story a few places, do they ever offer an explanation why this leads to greater usage? I could see urinals save a lot of water on toilet trips but on the other hand, people WFH probably use measurably less water showering on average. I can imagine where the water is used might shift away from towns to be more widely spread out so perhaps different sources are being hit?

speak for yourself stinky beggar

[d000hg]

speak for yourself stinky beggar

No, not really. It's science.

[SueEllen]

I have seen this story a few places, do they ever offer an explanation why this leads to greater usage? I could see urinals save a lot of water on toilet trips but on the other hand, people WFH probably use measurably less water showering on average. I can imagine where the water is used might shift away from towns to be more widely spread out so perhaps different sources are being hit?

I actually can't find out why the CEO and company claim this.

All it is know is that the area is in the commuter belt so people pre-Covid would commute to other water companies area e.g. Thames in the day. If they aren't WFH aren't using the water for drinking, going to the toilet, cooking and washing up. (There are probably some in that number who go to a gym near work/cycle part of the way in and then shower rather than showering at home.)

However if you WFH you probably put on the washing machine less as you aren't washing work clothes in addition to casual clothes.

On average people use 142-145 litres of water a day. There are average figures for what things use like going to the toilet and washing machines.

[d000hg]

I wonder if we'll ever move to using non-drinking water for toilets other than niche cases. Rain-water collection for toilets and hose-pipes for instance... bit of a faff for plumbing I suppose.

I did think "what about using seawater for coastal toilets" but that's probably bad a)because salt water is going to ruin your pipes, b)pouring a load of salt water into the drains probably not great

[SueEllen]

I wonder if we'll ever move to using non-drinking water for toilets other than niche cases. Rain-water collection for toilets and hose-pipes for instance... bit of a faff for plumbing I suppose.

I've worked in office blocks that were built this century that used grey water for toilets.

And people are told to use water butts for watering their garden in general particularly if they are on a water meter. The only problem is people tend to water their gardens when rain is lacking and water butts run out of water.

I did think "what about using seawater for coastal toilets" but that's probably bad a)because salt water is going to ruin your pipes, b)pouring a load of salt water into the drains probably not great

I read this the other day about Uruguay and their water problems - https://edition.cnn.com/2023/06/25/a...ntl/index.html

[JustKeepSwimming]

I don't really see the point of grey water. It's not 'conserving' water is it? It's just taking some water and using it without the need for sanitation. Sanitation process isn't expensive or wasteful really.

IMO it would be more efficient to make the sanitation greener with renewables than to encourage (grants) or mandate grey water systems on properties.

I'm sure a brand new office or maybe even flats could incorporate a greywater system and it make financial sense.

[SueEllen]

I don't really see the point of grey water. It's not 'conserving' water is it?

Where do you think clean water is sourced from?

. Sanitation process isn't expensive or wasteful really.

Yes it eventually ends up in the sewage works but for various reasons you aren't drinking it directly.

[JustKeepSwimming]

Where do you think clean water is sourced from?

Aquifers and reservoirs. Grey water prevents water reaching the aquifers and reservoirs. It's largely a closed system.

Water butts is one thing, when we are talking about full on grey water system is just becomes greenwashing. If we need more water you build a big reservoir, you don't pay more for millions of people to create their own family size reservoir, which is what grey water system is.