Re: hose pipe bans, drought orders
 

The basic idea is to use a heat source that would not otherwise boil water at atmospheric pressure (or produce a low yield) and lower the atmospheric pressure to a point below the "vapour pressure" of water at that temperature. Clear as mud.

Mine is a 14m2 parabolic on a tracker (left over from a solar steam generator project). The hot section is a 1.2m long, 60cm diameter insulated cylinder including the collector, evaporator and condenser - not much to see. Raw water is sprayed directly onto a "hot plate" about half way up the cylinder where it flashes to steam under partial vacuum and is drawn off by the vacuum pump. Think vacuum cleaner type pump - that is all it is really. Vapour is passed to a condenser where it is cooled by feed water which gets a boost prior to entering the evaporator.

Re: hose pipe bans, drought orders
 

This is a similar principle to some of the Absorption Chiller Products that we manufacture and service - obviously the goal with these is to generate Cooling Water and remove heat - using lithium bromide solution with a hot water or steam cycle. We are seeing a greater demand for this type of system - especially for sites with a large abundance of Hot Water or Steam as a By-Product.

Re: hose pipe bans, drought orders
 

I am on a meter. Theres 2 adults living here. We pay roughly £200 a year on water rates. We have 3 waterbutts to collect rainwater for the plants. I dont wash the car or the bike much and if I do its using a bucket, and we only have a shower no bath.

Re: hose pipe bans, drought orders
 

I didn't realise, but I'm allowed to wash my motorbike using a hosepipe!

My dad has just phone United Utilites to see whether he can use a hosepipe to wash his commercial vehicle, he can. You can't use one on your company car apparently... but his commercial vehicle (works from home so it's kept here) is no problem. Not sure of the full details or reasoning but that's the gist of it.

Whilst speaking to them, he also mentioned motorbikes as the Hosepipe Ban Information page says the following is restricted:

Washing of private vehicles with a hosepipe. This includes cars, vans, caravans, trailers and motorhomes

Of course includes isn't a comprehensive list so I expected motorbikes to be banned as well. But on asking, it is fine for me to use a hosepipe to wash my motorbike!

The lady he spoke to has put comments/notes on our address in case anyone complains about us using a hosepipe for these purposes.