The water charges and home brewing

[cochised]

Anybody concerned about the upcoming water charges and how it may affect us?
Must admit I haven't hugely looked into it or done any calculations but I shudder when I think of cooling 20 odd litres with a wort chiller   

[Shane Phelan]

I read this evening that the free threshold is 30,000 Litres a year. Doesn't that equate to something like 3 toilet flushes a day??  (those tears will cost 20cent too)

I'm not too worried until the metering actually starts.

[Garry]

Didn't the Australians come up with the no-chill (cubing) method to conserve water? We might have to revisit it?

[cochised]

Didn't the Australians come up with the no-chill (cubing) method to conserve water? We might have to revisit it?

Have certainly seen some YT vids of the Aussies using the ice blocks, could be a realistic alternative

[Garry]

I haven't seen them using ice blocks, have you a link?

This is the method I was on about. No cooling water required 

[imark]

Was listening to Chris White talking about the potential for the likes of botulism with that method. Not aware of an instance of it though.
Realistically, the water charges to chill a 5gal batch can't be more than a couple of pennies. I'll be sticking with my immersion chiller.

[irish_goat]

Could always run your chiller output into a bucket and reuse the water too.

[cochised]

I haven't seen them using ice blocks, have you a link?

This is the method I was on about. No cooling water required 

Sorry, my bad. Got mixed up with them using ice blocks instead of top up water when doing partials

[johnrm]

I have a water butt pump.
Keep a rain water barrel in the shade.
Recirc the water to this.

[brenmurph]

thought about using the beer line cooler and circulate with a pump, would be a quick blast chill but would the electricity cost more than the water used in a coil chill operation?

The first of my numerous pumps have arrived today by registered post from china,
the ones in the pics are 5 litres/ min under pressure, enough to pressure wash a car. under no load it pumps a litre every 5 seconds.
This pump would be ideal for circulating via a water butt which would be filled for free by my roof on the brewery, it will be located in the yard and take the water off 10 sq mtre of roof...thats my solution. The pump will be in the brewery as it has incredible suction I can mount it near the kitchen sink in the brewhouse. Im planning on experimenting with my h2o2 to sterilise the water butt so it can be used in brewing as well potentially. i think thats how they treat water in third world countries if im not mistaken

[Eoin]

Could always run your chiller output into a bucket and reuse the water too.

The best idea is to run it back to greywater if you had it. Or run a series of butts collecting rainwater and run it back to them. I cooled a batch yesterday and estimate about 150-175 as I collected some of it for washing in a 60l fermenter. It was hot enough to bath in.

[imark]

I collected some of it for washing in a 60l fermenter. It was hot enough to bath in.

Unusual bathing behaviour that

[Chris]

Saw these in Aldi Sunday also a 210litre version for €39. https://www.aldi.ie/en/specialbuys/sunday-27th-april/products-detail-page/ps/p/100-litre-water-butt-set/

[brenmurph]

Saw these in Aldi Sunday also a 210litre version for €39. https://www.aldi.ie/en/specialbuys/sunday-27th-april/products-detail-page/ps/p/100-litre-water-butt-set/

Got two of them last year, they are made of scheisser... lids dont fit,  pipes weak as urine, wouldnt buy again so if anyone buyin just check out the quality before splashing the cash....maybe the quality improved with this batch

[LordEoin]

I agree, they'll do the job but they're not the sturdiest.
Better to ask in your local hardware shop  to see if they have any old stock.
They often have one or two out the back with a broken tap or missing lid.
My father got a good one for not much more than a tenner a few years back. I think he just had to make a lid for it or something.