Eco Evolution Blog

Water is precious and vital to all life on our planet but there is only a limited amount of it. Most of us don’t think about water. We all have bad habits when using water. These habits mean that we often use more water than we need and therefore waste it, without thinking of the impact. This is damaging to the environment and can have an effect on our utility bills. Water efficiency is about reducing waste and thinking about the water we all use, changing bad habits into good habits. Conserving water not only helps preserve the precious and limited resource, but in turn provides a variety of benefits.

Everyone can save money by saving water. Treating and supplying water requires a lot of energy with its associated carbon emissions of course. Therefore, saving water will reduce your carbon footprint and help the environment. Everyone can do their bit to help protect our environment by not wasting water. Using water wisely within a community will help to achieve an environmentally sensitive place for people to live.

TT ECO-350 Watering System

Ferns Tidy Towns have been struggling for years to properly water their plants and flowers around the village, especially in warm dry summer weather, with the result that they were not getting full value from their floral displays throughout the flowering months.

We worked alongside Ferns Tidy Towns to design and supply a bespoke, portable watering system to suit their watering needs, reduce water waste and make more efficient use of the rainwater collected in the water butts located at the community vegetable garden and other locations around the village.

The result was the TT ECO-350 watering system, the name inspired by the local Tidy Towns group but equally suitable for other community groups or individuals. The TT ECO-350 watering system gives you great flexibility in its operation and use. It allows you to fill the 350 litre tank from an external source such as a water butt, a rainwater harvesting storage unit or a natural spring for instance. For those with their own water well it can also be filled directly by hose through the filler cap on the tank but we do recommend using grey water whenever possible.

Operating Modes

There are also several options as to how the system operates. It can pump:

• directly from the external inlet to the hose outlet without using the tank storage (as shown in the image just above)
• from the external inlet to the tank (filling the tank)
• from the tank to the hose outlet (emptying the tank)
• from the bottom of the tank to the top of the tank (for mixing purposes, handy for ensuring a good mix of liquid fertiliser for instance)

When pumping from the external inlet the supplied suction hose (with filter) is used. The hose used is wire reinforced PVC hose – specifically designed for vacuum/suction.

Design Features

The tank is designed with internal baffles that limit water movement when being transported in a vehicle. The tanks are manufactured from semi-translucent medium-density polyethylene (MDPE) that is ideal for easily checking the water level within the tank. The tank has a spring-vented filler cap.

The pump is an on-demand marine grade pump with capacity to pump up to 15 litres per minute and it is self priming. The pump is powered through the cigarette lighter socket in your vehicle. The external inlet and hose outlet use high quality stainless steel quick-connect couplings with stop valves.

As well as the operating options outlined above the system can also be used to supply water for various applications, such as to a pressure washer for instance.

Multiple Uses

So, the TT ECO-350 watering system has several uses and is ideal for community groups such as Tidy Towns groups and Community Garden groups or individuals who want to conserve water by using it in a more efficient manner and avoid wasting it. Uses of the system include:

• Watering
• Wash-down
• Spraying
• Water Supply

Solutions to suit your application

Other tank sizes and bespoke solutions are available and a mobile 110 litre wheeled unit with battery and optional solar panel is in development.

Contact us

Please contact Eco Evolution for further details: info@EcoEvolution.ie

What can households do to conserve water

Water is a precious resource so it makes sense that we conserve as much as possible, wherever possible. Most of us don’t think about water. We all have bad habits when using water. These habits mean that we often use more water than we need and therefore waste it, without thinking of the impact. This is damaging to the environment and can have an effect on our utility bills. Here are some simple water saving tips that can save you hundreds of litres of water per year.

 Water saving tips in the Kitchen:

• Don’t leave the tap running when washing vegetables, use a bowl – and rather than throwing this water out use it to water the plants!
• When doing dishes, it’s best to use a water and energy-efficient dishwasher. A dishwasher uses approximately 20 litres. Try to use only your appliances when you have a full load. Today’s models actually save more water than washing dishes by hand. If you decide to hand wash, fill a small bowl with as little water as possible.
• Keep a container of drinking water in the fridge. With cold drinking water on hand, you’ll waste less than you would while waiting for the tap to change temperature for each glass of water.
• When cooking, use only the amount of water required; this reduces the amount of water you’ll waste when straining.
• Fill the kettle with enough for your needs. Don’t boil a full kettle when all you need is one or two cups.
• A typical washing machine on full cycle uses up to 65  litres of water. Before turning on your washing machine make sure it is full to capacity. You’ll conserve water and save money by reducing your energy bill.
• Know how to turn off your water supply. This could save thousands of litres of water and can prevent damage to your home in the event of a pipe burst.

Water saving tips in the Bathroom:

Credit: Alliance for Water Efficiency.

• About 75 percent of the water used in the average home is used in the bathroom. Turning the tap off when brushing your teeth can save over 7,000 litres of water per year. A running tap will dispense up to 6 litres of water a minute.
• Take showers in preference to a bath. A bath uses an average of 80 litres of water whereas the average shower uses only 30 litres.  Beware a power shower will use over 125 litres in less than five minutes!
• Flushing the toilet accounts for 30% of household water use. Older models can use up to 20 litres per flush in comparison to the 6 litre flush models currently on the market. Alternatively place a brick or a bottle filled with water in the tank to reduce the volume of water used – take care not to interfere with the flushing mechanism if using this method.
• Fix all leaks and dripping taps – A hot/cold water tap with a constant drip can waste over a 1,000 litres a month!
• Replace the washer on the ball cock in you cistern and storage tank if you notice an overflow of water

Water saving tips in the garden:

Credit: How 2 save water

• Collect rainwater in a water butt  fed from your gutters but always make sure to securely cover large containers for safety. Rainwater is excellent for your garden. . Some Local Authorities now sell water butts. Or check with your local garden centre
• Always use a bucket and sponge to clean windows or wash your car instead of a hose. A hose uses more water in one hour than the average family uses in a day. The car will be just as clean using a bucket of water!
• Grass can survive for long periods without water and will quickly recover when the next rain showers arrive. Raising lawnmower blades to a higher level will help stop grass from scorching in warm weather. Leaving the clippings on the lawn protects roots and returns nutrients to the soil.
• Don’t use a hose when cleaning paths, patios and driveways. Use a shovel and brush instead.
• If you must water your plants, do it in the early morning or evening when it’s cooler. Forget the hose and always use a watering can fitted with a rose.
• Using mulch such as wood chips, bark or gravel will help prevent water evaporation and will suppress weed growth saving water and the need for weeding. These are especially valuable for shrubs, flowerbeds and new plantings.
• Regularly check your outdoor taps, pipes and plumbing fixtures for leaks.
• Remember established trees and shrubs do not need to be watered!
• Start recycling your green kitchen waste in a compost bin. Compost provides valuable nutrients and helps retain moisture in the soil.

What do you do to save water? Do you have any more tips on saving water in the home and garden?