Stage 3 Water Restrictions (Melbourne)

Submitted: Friday, Jan 12, 2007 at 19:11

ThreadID: 41153 Views:7011 Replies:12 FollowUps:5

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wrexed03

Hi all not sure if this has been posted. Just trying to get peoples interpritation re the below from Melbourne Water. Was going to give them a call but there offices are shut. Will give them a try in the morning.
Basically with the hot weather we have had the last couple of days we have been using our evaporative cooler and the excess water after usage has been placed in one of my recycle bins so i can use it in the garden or where ever i need too. Also we had a nice down pour last night apx 4am. Now in regards to washing my vehicle here at home i plan to use my high pressure washer and just use the water that i have captured from my cooler and rain water.
I can use the pressure cleaner by dropping one end of the hose into the recycle bin and as the pressure washer runs it sucks the water through providing the hose is not kinked in any way works well.
Now in regards to Melbournes Water statement :Quote
"Under Stage 3 water restrictions, can I wash my car?
A bucket, filled directly from a tap can be used to clean windows, mirrors and lights; and spot-remove corrosive substances.

A commercial car wash can be used.

Hand-held hoses and high-pressure water cleaners cannot be used any time for vehicle washing." "End Quote"

Does the above statement mean i cant use the water i have captured from the rain and my evaporative cooler? They specify "cannot be used any time for vehicle washing" but doesnt say anything about rain water or anywater that ends up in the stormwater drains..
To my suprise i couldnt beleive how much water the cooler releases after use.
I could easily wash both cars with my pressure cleaner this way.
Can anyone see anything wrong with this? Peoples thoughts or suggestions would be greatly appreciated. Sorry about the long post.

Regards

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Reply By: mfewster - Friday, Jan 12, 2007 at 19:22

Friday, Jan 12, 2007 at 19:22

If your evaporative cooler is using lots of water, it probably needs to be adjusted. The water should be recycled in the unit so that run off is minimal (there is loss from the evaporation of course.) Some models have a clearing cycle that will run extra water through every so often to flush the system out, but generally, there should be little loss from the overflow.

AnswerID: 214972

Follow Up By: wrexed03 - Friday, Jan 12, 2007 at 19:29

Friday, Jan 12, 2007 at 19:29

Its using a bit but not excessive fills about a quater of the recycle bin after a run. If i run the cooler for 5 days turning it on and off the bin would be full. Question is can i use this water to wash my vehicle without any penalties or warnings? See original post.. Appreciate the input either way.

Regards

FollowupID: 475268

Reply By: Member - Davoe (Nullagine) - Friday, Jan 12, 2007 at 19:24

Friday, Jan 12, 2007 at 19:24

wouldnt use evap water on my vehicle t is usually saline (the higher the runoff from it the fresher it is, if it is set for low runof it can be quite salty)

AnswerID: 214973

Reply By: Member - Tim - Stratford (VIC) - Friday, Jan 12, 2007 at 19:27

Friday, Jan 12, 2007 at 19:27

wrexed03,

I can't see a problem with it. Your not using any water from a tap plumbed into the mains. It would be the same as having a rain water tank to water your lawn/garden.

The only problem I can see is that someone may 'dob' you in to the water authority, through a mistaken belief, and then the water police arrive after you've empty your water source - may be hard to prove you used the wheelie bin supply.

I know you shouldn't have to prove your innocence but a couple of photos of the 'car-wash-system' during washing may help.

Tim - Stratford (on stage 3)

AnswerID: 214974

Follow Up By: Kev M (NSW) - Friday, Jan 12, 2007 at 20:21

Friday, Jan 12, 2007 at 20:21

In Sydney the water patrol can only fine you if they personally catch you in the act. Not if your dobbed in by the neighbours.

Kev

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FollowupID: 475278

Reply By: wrexed03 - Friday, Jan 12, 2007 at 19:32

Friday, Jan 12, 2007 at 19:32

Sounds good Tim might take some happy snaps with the digi cam and make sure they are dated acordingly in case anyone questions it.
Might place a small sign out the front of the property advising people that this water is not directly from a tap.
Would be great if Melbourne water could be more detailed with what people can do and can't do..

Regards

AnswerID: 214980

Follow Up By: Red Patrol - Friday, Jan 12, 2007 at 19:51

Friday, Jan 12, 2007 at 19:51

I think you will find that recycled water is totally exempt from restrictions. Ie Water from warming your shower etc.
Steve

FollowupID: 475273

Reply By: obee - Friday, Jan 12, 2007 at 19:49

Friday, Jan 12, 2007 at 19:49

There is plenty of water out there but it needs to be treated and pumped and it costs a lot of energy. (There is an ocean full of it) They dont whinge about us using lots of energy driving around and using air conditioners so why do they blame us plebs for using too much water? Because the pollies have not been doing their job properly.

Owen

AnswerID: 214982

Follow Up By: Bonz (Vic) - Saturday, Jan 13, 2007 at 08:56

Saturday, Jan 13, 2007 at 08:56

They havent blamed anyone obee, all THEY have done is ask everyone to cut back to conserve water, but THEY are watching our every move and reporting it to THEIR senior officers in the United States.

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FollowupID: 475351

Reply By: feral - Friday, Jan 12, 2007 at 20:44

Friday, Jan 12, 2007 at 20:44

Don't high pressure washers have to have mains pressure from a tap to run? You will not get any pressure if you are just having the intake in the bin.

As for can you use the water...yes because it is grey water, not clean drinking water.

Cheers.

AnswerID: 214991

Follow Up By: wrexed03 - Friday, Jan 12, 2007 at 21:34

Friday, Jan 12, 2007 at 21:34

I tested mine it does actually suck the water through the hose when the pressure cleaner is running. Only issue is as far as i can see if you dont kink the hose it will keep flowing otherwise it stops.

FollowupID: 475297

Reply By: Member - Stephen M (NSW) - Friday, Jan 12, 2007 at 21:01

Friday, Jan 12, 2007 at 21:01

Cant answer your question there wrexed03, but this is off the subject a bit but when we were down high country and got booted out cause of fires (which were really scary by the way was glad to be out) we did the snowys instead (fires behind us all the way crossing over between two states all the time) but due to this we stayed in alot of caravan parks here and there still camping but had the parks toilets and showers to use, now what amazed me was that they are on level 5 restrictions and yet every shower block in every park didnt have water savers on them, there for the water coming out from the shower heads was enourmous, brillant pressure and no time limits. I'm surprised the council didnt demand they have water savers on all there water outlets and yet here we are using a frigen bucket to wash cars which buy the way I think uses more water than quickly turning the hose off and on. Dont get me wrong I like a nice shower like the rest of you but I have even got the grey water set up which pumps to my underground sprinklers and water savers on all internal water oulets (except washing machine) work that one out. Regards Steve M

AnswerID: 214994

Reply By: Exploder - Friday, Jan 12, 2007 at 22:15

Friday, Jan 12, 2007 at 22:15

Should read

"Under Stage 3 water restrictions, can I wash my car?
A bucket, filled directly from a tap can be used to clean windows, mirrors and lights; and spot-remove corrosive substances.

A commercial car wash can be used.
But

Due to bleep poor planning for the future on owe behalf Hand-held hoses and high-pressure water cleaners cannot be used any time for vehicle washing, how ever industry can guzzle as much water as it likes and road works can dump countless litres of water onto the rouge base to keep the dust down" "End Quote"

Obee> there is a lot of issues re desalinations plants and the impact on Marine environment, They tell you they have taken the appropriate steps, but they are the same people who tell you they have planed for the water future but hear we are with stage 3 restrictions.

AnswerID: 215006

Reply By: Truckster (Vic) - Friday, Jan 12, 2007 at 22:23

Friday, Jan 12, 2007 at 22:23

I love people screaming this that the other.

but if it dont rain, it wont change... and part of the cause according to a tele prog, is everyone living on the coast, causing the areas to be much hotter, thus causing the clouds to rise up and bleep off before raining.... rpetty sure thats it.. bottle of cabv sav dont help the ememeory

AnswerID: 215011

Reply By: Bonz (Vic) - Saturday, Jan 13, 2007 at 08:59

Saturday, Jan 13, 2007 at 08:59

wrexed the restrictions are for use of Melbourne Water water, from taps et al, not from buckets and rain water, I would go ahead, but to cover my ar$e (and I hate to say this but there are dobbing id10t's out there, take a few pics of how u did it so you can substantiate the usage when the Water Police come knocking.

Basically go for it.

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AnswerID: 215064

Reply By: DIO - Saturday, Jan 13, 2007 at 10:27

Saturday, Jan 13, 2007 at 10:27

I'm with you mate. It's re-cycled water - go for it.

Isn't it amazing though how an issued like this brings out the wallys and whingers who immediately start knocking the 'water police'. These are the people who would seek to have every statute removed from the books so they THEY can be selfish and incosiderate and DO THEIR OWN THING.

For crying out loud, water restrictions are in place to conserve water (not stop people using it) as perhaps the day is not far off when we turn the taps on and nothing comes out. Buth then I guess the idots in society just won't give a #&*$!@

AnswerID: 215076

Reply By: wrexed03 - Saturday, Jan 13, 2007 at 10:41

Saturday, Jan 13, 2007 at 10:41

Just spoke to melbourne water re this issue. Bottom line is any water you catch be rain or whatever so long as its not comming directly from the tap at the time you can do what ever you like with it.
Just one thing they record your address in case someone decides to call and have a winge about your water useage.

So im off to wash my cars now :)

Thanks all for contributed to this post.

Best Regads
Wrexed03

AnswerID: 215081