Water Use Facts & Figures

• On average we all use approximately 150 litres (33 Gallons) of water per day
• A tap left running can typically use 10 litres (2.2 Gallons) per minute
• A dripping tap can waste approximately 40 litres (8.8 Gallons) of water per day
• Leaking ball valves can waste up to 150,000 litres (33,000 Gallons) of water per year
• Depending on the model a dishwasher can use between 10 & 40 litres (2.2 to 8.8 Gallons) of water per cycle, regardless of whether or not it is full

Maintenance Activities & Checks to manage & Reduce Water Use:

• Are any of the taps on the farm dripping or overflows running?
  • Can the washers be replaced?
    • If No, Can the fitting be replaced?
  • Can the overflow be repaired?
    • If No, Can it be replaced?

• Are taps and hosepipes left running when unattended?
  • If yes, consider fitting automatic or shut-off valves.

• Are the water pipes properly covered to prevent them freezing in cold weather?
  • Ensure all pipes are adequately insulated (See my advice on frost protection)

• Are water troughs overflowing or ball-valves leaking or damaged?
  • If Yes, replace or repair valves

Simple Leak Detection Method

Before calling in a leak detection contractor – which can cost anywhere from  €350 to €500 for a half day with no guarantee of finding a leak – you can use your meter as an indication of the presence of a leak by following this simple process.

1. Check that you have a water meter, it is generally located in a chamber with a stopcock close to the boundary of your property, if you do not know where your meter is your Local Council will be able to tell you – and in some cases will call and show you.
2. Turn off all water-using appliances – showers, sinks, washing machines, dishwashers, etc – so that no water is being used in any of the outlets, also repair any leaking or defective outlets such as taps & ball valves etc.
3. Remove the meter box lid, using an appropriate tool. The meter usually measures water use in cubic meters (1000 litres). Take a note of the meter reading and wait 15 to 20 minutes, check the meter reading again, if it has  not changed you probably don’t have a leak. However, if the reading has changed then you may have a leak somewhere in your system.
4. If you think you do have a leak, make sure you call a specialist leak detection provider as soon as possible, as every minute the leak remains unrepaired it is costing you money. Make sure you shop around to get the best deal.

Water Saving Tips

• Use dry-cleaning techniques – when washing and cleaning, such as scrapers, squeegees and brushes to remove solid waste from yards and pens before they are cleaned with water.
• Use a Bucket – If it takes a lot of water and effort to clean your parlour after milking, use a small amount of water (a bucket or so) to lightly wet the parlour first. This will make the muck stick less, reducing the amount of water that you will need.
• Hosepipe – If you need to use a hosepipe to provide water, make sure it has a hand operated or automatic cut out valve, so that when you release the trigger the flow of water stops.

Alternative sources of water… Rainwater

Rain collected from the roofs of farm buildings can be re-used for a variety of activities, including washing down yards.  The amount of rainwater you can collect and use will depend the annual rainfall for your area, the size, slope and material that your roof is made from.

How much you can store depends upon the space that you have for storage and the demand that you have for the water.

Such systems can be expensive but there is good news for the farming community, as stated in my previous blog post grants are now available from the Department of Agriculture, Fisheries & Foods for qualifying farms for the installation of rainwater harvesting systems.

The use of harvested rainwater removes the need to use clean drinking water for wash down areas, reduces costs associated with water charges, if you are connected to the mains supply.

If you have your own well, harvesting rainwater will reduce the amount of water you take from the ground during dry periods and can help to prevent your well from running dry, it can also save you money from treating the water yourself.

If you would like to know more please go to the contacts page of my website by clicking here and I would be only to pleased to discuss how you can reduce your water use through water management, maintenance and the rainwater harvesting systems can be of benefit to you, alternatively you can leave a comment in boxes below.

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