ᐅ Outdoor water meter / garden water meter

Created on: 29 Aug 2016 12:06
J
Jochen104
Hello everyone,

Today I don’t have a problem or question, but rather a tip to share:

We don’t have a rainwater tank, so we have been using a lot of water from our outdoor faucet for watering our "garden" (currently just growing lawn) and for work on our outdoor area (mixing concrete, etc.). This, of course, incurs both fresh water and wastewater charges. However, since this water does not go into the sewer system, I looked into it:

In our municipality (this can be regulated differently by each municipality in their wastewater regulations), it is possible to install a so-called garden water meter / outdoor water meter.

Regulations in our municipality (may vary elsewhere):
  • A calibrated meter can be installed by yourself (available online with mounting materials for under 30 euros; these meters are certified for 6 years)
  • The meter must be accessible to the municipality if required (for reading)
  • The meter reading must be submitted to the municipality by January 15
  • No wastewater fees are charged for the water used once the consumption exceeds 10 cubic meters (why it starts at 10, neither I nor the municipal official know, but that is what the regulation states :rolleyes)
  • I found this information in the wastewater fee statute and the wastewater fee increase statute
Wastewater charges are 3.75 euros per cubic meter here. That means if over the certified 6 years I use a total of 8 cubic meters above the minimum consumption, the meter will have already paid for itself.

If I had known and implemented this at the beginning of the outdoor work, I would have saved the cost by now.

Maybe this tip will help someone else as well.
R
Robbaut
30 Aug 2016 14:45
Sebastian79 schrieb:
I installed a groundwater pump instead.

Hi,
where did you install the pump? Inside or outside? Our neighbors drilled below the slab and now the pump is in the basement, pumping the water to an outdoor faucet. I think that’s a neat solution, which I unfortunately found out about too late...
Best regards
Robert
S
Sebastian79
30 Aug 2016 15:15
The pump is located in the utility room in the basement, but the drilling is done in front of the house – we didn’t want anything under the slab.

So, two core drillings – neat, with an additional shut-off valve in the utility room, and then as many valves as I want. And: frost-proof!
R
Robbaut
30 Aug 2016 15:40
Thank you. Yes, that is naturally the most elegant solution!
andimann30 Aug 2016 16:03
Hello,

a quick question: Are garden wells allowed in your area? Here (Nuremberg region) they are mostly prohibited by local regulations. With such low groundwater levels, they often wouldn’t make much sense anyway.

We will install a separate garden water meter similar to Jochen104 and therefore don’t have to pay wastewater fees for garden water. Then garden water only costs 2 €/m³ (about 2.6 USD/ft³), so the entire effort for a well, pump, etc., would never really pay off.

Plus, I never have to worry whether the groundwater might be contaminated with something that my kids shouldn’t drink in larger amounts!

Best regards,

Andreas
S
Sebastian79
30 Aug 2016 16:08
Is allowed – and if not, I wouldn’t care anyway

According to samples, the groundwater here is supposed to be better than the municipal water.
andimann30 Aug 2016 16:15
Hi,
Sebastian79 schrieb:
It’s allowed – and if it wasn’t, I wouldn’t care anyway

According to tests, the groundwater here is better than the municipal water.

As long as the nearest “eco-fanatic neighborhood watch” doesn’t hear your pump….

But it’s true, groundwater is usually fairly decent. It’s probably not better than tap water, but it should be drinkable.

We’re located right next to farmland, so I’d be doubtful about the groundwater quality after the farmer has emptied his manure tank on the field.

Best regards,

Andreas