Did you know that if a tap drips at 1 drip per second, it will take just over 5 hours to collect 1 litre. Multiply that by just one tap per household and you’ve got thousands of litres of lost water 
In October 2025, this was a “trifling” (sarcasm on) 18.8% - there’s certainly some work to do there !
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I live like this anyway! Once you start thinking about it almost all water can be recycled.
My washing up water goes on the lavender plant as it seems to love washing up liquid in the water I’m vaguely thinking of giving it a try on tbe tomatoes too as I believe they love alkali (eg potash) which I think soap is. Just not sure if washing up liquid is alkali like soap.
Bonus that washing up liquid also seems to have some effect in keeping pests off leaves.
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I’m pretty sure it is recycled anyway in our commune. We have large reed beds as part of the waste water treatment plant and it all feeds into a reservoir which I assume is then treated and fed back. I’m doing it now mainly because we are now forbidden from using any potable water on our plants, with the exception of the potager. I’m using the waste water to keep things alive.
Shame I’m allergic to washing up 
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Next door turned up yesterday, their kids from Paris are here with them. This morning OH saw them Karchering their cars on the driveway. They can hide behind the gates but you can see the water flowing across the pavement to the gutter.
OH saw a report on TV about residents of Antibes complaining about being restricted while tourists are able to use loads of water for showers on the beach. Maybe @larkswood12 knows something about it?
Hi Jennifer, in the voice of presumably many film actors playing criminals, ‘I no nuffink’. (was it Minder, the aficionado of the genre?).
However, I can confidently shop the guardian of our surrounding residence who hoses down all the coursives each week, and report people on the beach are literally queuing to stand under the showers, though whether they are my neighbours, or tourists, I did not ask. Even the lifeguards are dastardly filling up their water bottles using the shower water.
I don’t shower on the beach - too cold! I use the unlimited (though metered) water in the apartment.
We’ll be passing by you on Monday en route to the eclipse, stopping to see our old friend in Perpignan. It’s all a rush, because I still don’t know where to go, the forecasts seem to be moving to cloudy for the coast and partially for Saragossa on the day.
Surprised there’s not a massive thread on SF about it…
edit - just seen it!
I think 'I know nothing could be Manuel in Fawlty Towers.
We used to have showers or taps on the beach here, but the council removed them. I think it was to do with water consumption but I’m not sure.
Bonne route.
Same along here, tourists were taking the mick from free showers when the general residential public had water restrictions imposed.
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We have acalccaire and had a borehole for 18 years. We use a grundfos pump, it was expensive (over €600 even then) and so far (touch wood) we have never had any trouble with it.
Thames Water is hilarious. We have just had a hugely dry summer so we have, as gardeners, used a lot more water. Therefore, in the warped logic of TW our direct debit must go up from £18 a month to £58 because, of course, we will continue to use enormous quantities of water over the autumn and winter months.
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If Andy Burnham doesn’t carry out what just about Everyone have spoken to and bring back these services into public ownership his reign may well be a short one, IMO the British have always taken a lot of stick but then they just have enough and it all goes a little crazy, possibly like France is seeing.
Makes absolute sense to me…
Seriously though.. can you talk to them and explain???
Had similar happening with EDF here in France a few years back, when my leccy usage increased (briefly) and they thought it would be a constant. They tried to upp the monthly DD for the next 12 months, but I explained what had occurred and that the extra-need no longer existed… so they relented and went back to normal.
Just one more reason why I don’t have any DDs, unless absolutely forced. I have a little list, it reminds me every time a bill must be paid. It has worked well for years, apart from, yes another water provider, did not update my address and started to sue me.
They’ll refund the money later, but not the interest they’ve made on it.
As with everything else… folk will differ in how they prefer to pay bills.
Mostly I’m happy with DD’s but I do have a couple where I like to check and authorise before payment is taken. Works well for me… but that’s just me… 
No wonder UK water in trouble if that’s all they charge folk!!!
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Unfortunately, TW has outsourced its helpline to the Indian subcontinent and although the employees speak English it’s not their first language and their strong accent makes comprehension difficult.
Could be worse. I remember the old Lloyds TSB call centre being in Glasgow and only my having developed a Rab C. Nesbit decoder made those calls possible.
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In my youff I moderated group discussions / focus groups (whatever). I was in Liverpool, talking about cars (heaven only know why). I understood one word in ten (a bit like rural Lot et Garonne). The only way I coped was to keep saying “That’s very interesting, what do the rest of you think?” Praying and hoping that the person who transcribed my tape recording when I got back to the office would understand more than I did.
I did learn which areas of Liverpool were no go areas if you didn’t want your car stolen, or up on bricks with no wheels!