jlparsons
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| posted on 2/2/09 at 11:32 PM |
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creative marketing
Ok, I just came across an interesting water saving device called a "save-a-flush bag". The idea is to reduce your bog cistern from 7l to
6l as per modern ones. To use their marketing blurb...
"The patented device contains special crystals that absorb water and once placed in the toilet cistern the Save-a-Flush swells over a 5-6 hour
period to displace 1 litre of water per flush. It lasts many years, quietly saving water without affecting what you do day to day – a great way for
you to do your bit to help the environment."
Now that's great, I'm all for saving water, the environment, polar bears, the hole in the polar ice caps, whatever. Only...
wouldn't a housebrick do the same job? Am i missing something here?
[Edited on 2/2/09 by jlparsons]
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handyandy
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| posted on 2/2/09 at 11:36 PM |
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i,ve used two 500ml coke bottles with tops on to keep watertight, sort of jammed in to the cistern, anything that won,t break down/degrade will
displace the water.
simple idea is usually the best & the cheapest.
andy
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dinosaurjuice
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| posted on 2/2/09 at 11:39 PM |
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a house brick
a bottle of water filled
stones
putting a bend on the float rod
diving weights/pinto
erm anything denser than water that wont rust or degrade really.
edit: darn too slow
[Edited on 2/2/09 by dinosaurjuice]
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blakep82
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| posted on 2/2/09 at 11:40 PM |
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house brick, couple of rocks... hmmm
i remember something similar to these on blue peter when i was a lad, it was nothing much more than a plastic container that went in the cistern,
probably the same as the coke bottles
________________________
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don't write OT on a new thread title, you're creating the topic, everything you write is very much ON topic!
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jlparsons
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| posted on 2/2/09 at 11:40 PM |
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quote: Originally posted by dinosaurjuice
a house brick
a bottle of water filled
stones
putting a bend on the float rod
diving weights/pinto
erm anything denser than water that wont rust or degrade really.
pinto...    love it
Any resemblance to real persons, living or dead is purely coincidental. Some assembly required. Batteries not included. Contents may settle during
shipment. Use only as directed. No other warranty expressed or implied. Do not use while operating a motor vehicle or heavy equipment. Subject to
approval, terms and conditions apply. Apply only to affected area. For recreational use only. All models over 18 years of age. No user-serviceable
parts inside. Subject to change. As seen on TV. One size fits all. May contain nuts. Slippery when wet. For office use only. Edited for television.
Keep cool; process promptly.
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JoelP
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| posted on 2/2/09 at 11:56 PM |
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quote: Originally posted by jlparsons
Ok, I just came across an interesting water saving device called a "save-a-flush bag". The idea is to reduce your bog cistern from 7l to
6l as per modern ones. To use their marketing blurb...
"The patented device contains special crystals that absorb water and once placed in the toilet cistern the Save-a-Flush swells over a 5-6 hour
period to displace 1 litre of water per flush. It lasts many years, quietly saving water without affecting what you do day to day – a great way for
you to do your bit to help the environment."
Now that's great, I'm all for saving water, the environment, polar bears, the hole in the polar ice caps, whatever. Only...
wouldn't a housebrick do the same job? Am i missing something here?
[Edited on 2/2/09 by jlparsons]
its a funny old way to save the environment isnt it, sending out 100,000 bags of crystals like Yorkshire Water did a few years back. And then using
unmarked packaging, nicely sparking a terror alert as people compained about recieving strange powder in the post...
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Simon
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| posted on 2/2/09 at 11:56 PM |
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Er, not wanting to point out the obvious, but we do happen to live in a wet country!
If, and it's a bloody big if, we do start getting less rainfall, the donkeys who are responsible for collecting our water (and storing it), will
have to invest some of their shareholders dividends in expanding their storage capabilities, so they don't run out.
After all, if they run out, they can't sell it to us and won't make any money.
Apart from that, yeah, chuck a brick in it, or have a collection device that uses soiled (ie gutter/bath/shower) water to flush it with. I do agree,
it's a bit of a waste to use drinking water to flush the bog with!!
Incidentally, I believe the Swiss have a flush that uses less than two pints of water - about a litre!
ATB
Simon
[Edited on 2/2/09 by Simon]
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skodaman
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| posted on 3/2/09 at 12:07 AM |
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''diving weights/pinto''
A crossflow won't fit in my cistern so I presume neither would a pinto. However I reckon I could just about squeeze a bike engine in there.
Skodaman
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MikeR
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| posted on 3/2/09 at 12:28 AM |
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yeah but a bike engine (whilst completely useless and unwanted by most people) is so small and light it probably won't displace enough.
Then again you could attach the brick to the BEC, when the owner complains its not going very fast sell then a CEC. Do this twice and you'll
have a brick, 2 or 3 converts and enough engine to displace a couple of litres of water.

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nitram38
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| posted on 3/2/09 at 04:28 AM |
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Changed both my lavs to use dual flush. Only £16 on ebay for the pair mechanisms.
Not only do you have a short and long flush, you can adjust how much water you want the longer flush to use.
Not a locost solution but saves a lot more water than a brick
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mad4x4
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| posted on 3/2/09 at 07:26 AM |
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Yes but at 40p for a Brick the Locost Option would be the Brick (unless you have a PINTO kicking about) I am still worried that if I were to get a
PINTO into my cistren then there may not be room for water....... So how would it flush .... Surely I need at least some water for it to flush....
OOO hang on I go you now change the cistren out for the PINTO block and use the water held in the waterjacket to flush the BOG. - Hell that'd
work
Scot's do it better in Kilts.
MK INDY's Don't Self Centre Regardless of MK Setting !
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BenB
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| posted on 3/2/09 at 10:23 AM |
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quote: Originally posted by Simon
Er, not wanting to point out the obvious, but we do happen to live in a wet country!
If, and it's a bloody big if, we do start getting less rainfall, the donkeys who are responsible for collecting our water (and storing it), will
have to invest some of their shareholders dividends in expanding their storage capabilities, so they don't run out.
After all, if they run out, they can't sell it to us and won't make any money.
Apart from that, yeah, chuck a brick in it, or have a collection device that uses soiled (ie gutter/bath/shower) water to flush it with. I do agree,
it's a bit of a waste to use drinking water to flush the bog with!!
Incidentally, I believe the Swiss have a flush that uses less than two pints of water - about a litre!
ATB
Simon
[Edited on 2/2/09 by Simon]
We do live in a wet country. The problem isn't running out of water it's the energy and pollution created in producing potable (drinking)
water to wash crap and wee down the toilet. Ditto cleaning cars (some would say bathing), putting into the hot water supply etc etc... If we all used
rain water collection devices or had two water supplies there wouldn't be the same problem.....
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nitram38
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| posted on 3/2/09 at 10:24 AM |
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quote: Originally posted by mad4x4
Yes but at 40p for a Brick the Locost Option would be the Brick (unless you have a PINTO kicking about) I am still worried that if I were to get a
PINTO into my cistren then there may not be room for water....... So how would it flush .... Surely I need at least some water for it to flush....
OOO hang on I go you now change the cistren out for the PINTO block and use the water held in the waterjacket to flush the BOG. - Hell that'd
work
But saving 10% of your water bill comes to more than £16 per year or a 40p brick.
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mackei23b
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| posted on 3/2/09 at 12:33 PM |
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Why not dig a hole in the garden, then you don't need any water at all!! 
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