FITTING INSTRUCTIONS

Below and in direct line of the valve, 300 mm away, drill and plug as before then screw in a vine eye, directly below this at control height repeat with the other vine eye. Finally cut the cord in half, tie a large knot in one end and thread through a lug on the valve, through the two vine eyes, through a handle and finish with another knot. Repeat with the second cord.

The valve is designed to take 19mm / 3/4 ins garden hose, if you have problems obtaining this there are two alternatives.

1. Use a normal 1/2 ins garden hose with a Hozelock inline connector to the valve outlet, these inline connectors are designed to join two lengths of hose together. Using 1/2 ins hosepipe does restrict the outflow of  the water.

2. Use a length of 22mm OD /18mm ID overflow pipe, using either silicone or adhesive to connect to the valve outlet, taking care to make a watertight joint, using the overflow pipe is definitely the best method for the outflow of water. 

Whichever method you use end the pipe inside and near the bottom of your water butt allowing the newly diverted grey water to mix completely with the contents of the water butt, allow to cool before using on the garden.

LEGAL ISSUES

After contacting the relevant Government Department Water Two received this reply:

Hosepipe bans are imposed by water companies under their own powers and they apply only to water supplied by the company concerned.  The duty water companies have to supply water is directly linked to quality criteria. The filling of a barrel direct from the mains supply by hosepipe for garden watering purposes, with no intervening use of the water, would contravene a hosepipe ban. However, once water supplied by a company has been used then that water is no longer of a kind that was originally supplied. It follows then that used bath/shower water will not be affected by a hosepipe ban. The potential exists for recycled water systems to contaminate potable mains water supplies by inadvertent cross connection or backflow. Installations must therefore comply with the Water Supply (Water Fittings) Regulations 1999.  The Water Regulations Advisory Scheme has published two Information and Guidance Notes on the use of recycled water, see www.wras.co.uk for further information.

Water Supply and Regulation Division,
Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs,
Room 304, 55 Whitehall, c/o 3-8 Whitehall Place, London, SW1A 2HH.

After contacting DEFRA one of our valued customers received this reply:               Thank you for your email of 7 September to the DEFRA Help line regarding hosepipe bans and grey water diverters. Due to the prolonged period of below average rainfall in the South East of England a number of water companies in the South East have imposed hosepipe bans. The use of sprinkler and/or hosepipe bans, as a demand management tool, is normally one of the first steps taken by a water company to protect its water resources in times of stress in order to fulfil its statutory duty to supply its customers.. Before imposing a hosepipe ban the water company has to be of the opinion that a serious deficiency of water available for distribution exists or is threatened. Hosepipe bans are imposed by water companies under their own powers and do not require the approval of the Government or the Environment Agency..

Hosepipe bans prohibit or restrict the use of hosepipes or similar apparatus for watering private gardens or washing private motor cars. A hosepipe ban only applies to water taken direct from the mains supply. Watering cans can still be used.. It is encouraging to hear of your positive attitude towards saving water. Water conservation is an important environmental issue, and one that the Government is keen to promote. Wastewater reuse through rainwater capture or grey water recycling is something that Government wishes to encourage where its use is appropriate.  Using recycled (grey) water via a hosepipe to water your garden does not contravene a hosepipe ban.