Water restrictions and car washing

OMY005 · Postby **OMY005** » Thu Aug 17, 2006 9:43 pm

For those in Bris or any where else where there is restrictions on how you can wash a car. This set-up meets level 3 restriction guidelines. Seems to work OK with it up on the clothes line. It wouldn't work with it on the ground. I used about 30lt (filled the can 3 times) to do mine. The unit is a Karcher \"Winner 11\" from Bunnings at $99. There seems to be only a couple of brands that don't need mains water pressure to work. Hope this is helpful.

Andrew.

NMX516 · Postby **NMX516** » Thu Aug 17, 2006 9:48 pm

Thanks Andrew,

Am I correct in thinking that the karcher is drawing water from the watering can?

I've just been going to Carlovers so far.... along with every other man and his dog

KAM · Postby **KAM** » Thu Aug 17, 2006 10:11 pm

Thanks Andrew

I have an Alto which I bought from Bunnings for $59 when they were on a runout special. I have used a 20 Litre water container we had used when camping. Made up an adaptor to fit the tap with a male quick connect hose connector. Had the same problem as you when I first tried it, needed the water very high up. Found that if I connect it to the mains for a few seconds to prime the pump and then connect it to the container which is at ground level it works fine. I found I use approx 4 to 5 buckets (35 to 40 litres) to pre rinse and wash the SP23 even less for the MX5. Try washing any car with buckets alone and only use 4 or 5 buckets it will take more than that just to rinse it.
I have been meaning to call the Brisbane Council to determine if this is acceptable as I had read on another forum it was ok in NSW.
Have you checked this with the Brisbane Council.

Regards
Kym

OMY005 · Postby **OMY005** » Thu Aug 17, 2006 11:27 pm

NMX516 wrote:Am I correct in thinking that the karcher is drawing water from the watering can?

Yes that is correct, My poor photographic skills don't show it connected.

Andrew.

OMY005 · Postby **OMY005** » Thu Aug 17, 2006 11:31 pm

KAM wrote:I have been meaning to call the Brisbane Council to determine if this is acceptable as I had read on another forum it was ok in NSW.
Have you checked this with the Brisbane Council.

BCC said it was OK as long as it is not connected to mains water. Bucket or Tank is fine.

Andrew.

Brad · Postby **Brad** » Fri Aug 18, 2006 12:06 am

One variation to this is to leave the bucket under a running tap and put the hose from the kartcher into that...though I don't condone this it's apparently still legal.

JBT · Postby **JBT** » Fri Aug 18, 2006 8:08 am

Brad wrote:One variation to this is to leave the bucket under a running tap and put the hose from the kartcher into that...though I don't condone this it's apparently still legal.

That sounds silly enough to be factual, especially given the effluent that freely flows from the mouths of our local political masters ATM.

rhysk · Postby **rhysk** » Mon Aug 21, 2006 10:26 am

I have a bucket with a hose connector at the bottom, which solves the pump priming problem. And then keep the bucket under a running tap.

OMY005 · Postby **OMY005** » Mon Aug 21, 2006 10:32 am

rhysk wrote:I have a bucket with a hose connector at the bottom, which solves the pump priming problem. And then keep the bucket under a running tap.

Hello Rhys, Any pics of how you got the connector to seal on the bucket?

Thanks, Andrew.

KAM · Postby **KAM** » Fri Sep 01, 2006 11:24 am

Andrew this is my setup but I still need to prime the pump but that may be a problem with my Alto. Next time I use it I'll put it up higher to see if it will prime itself.

JBT · Postby **JBT** » Fri Sep 01, 2006 12:42 pm

Re-posted for comparison

CT · Postby CT » Fri Sep 01, 2006 1:50 pm

I have just commisioned my 4000 litre water tank and pump for car washing, lawn watering ad general watery stuff. It's been full for a month now. If you have space for one, I highly recommend it. Plus, with the NSW Water rebate, it only costs ~$1600 including pump! Excellent value I reckon.

Brad · Postby **Brad** » Fri Sep 01, 2006 2:45 pm

Great stuff Chris, though the problem with water tanks is that there are many other factors which will determine if they are the right solution for a particular house. Issues such as roof area, design (too many hips and gables makes for inefficient guttering for collection to 1 point), local rain fall, and debris on the roof which requires greater first flush volumes.

I looked into it for my parents house. It has a pretty complicated roof form and sporadic rainfall. The solution would of been to put in a tank of 4000+ litres and they weren't prepared to go that far at this time. Instead they are rigging up a greywater re-use system that collects the water from the washing machine for pumping to a hose cock at the back of the house for watering. While not the ultimate solution, given the washing machine uses over 200l per wash :shock:

it's doing the job. They have cut their water usage by 2/3 since this time last year.

I live in an apartment so besides fittings and appliances we have no control over rainwater capture or grey water reuse.

OMY005 · Postby **OMY005** » Fri Sep 01, 2006 3:04 pm

Brad wrote:Instead they are rigging up a greywater re-use system that collects the water from the washing machine for pumping to a hose cock at the back of the house for watering.

Hello Brad, I asked the council about this and they said grey water cannot be stored at all and can only be used for sub-surface irrigation. :frown:

So no tanks, must be used immediately and no outlets/taps above ground. This may have changed recently though because it is a good idea.

Andrew.

Brad · Postby **Brad** » Fri Sep 01, 2006 3:21 pm

Yep, was changed recently.

http://www.lgp.qld.gov.au/docs/corporat ... ash244.pdf

But my interpretation though is that you can not store the greywater, but you can hook a hose up and water your garden.