Water Book, The
Find it, move it, store it, clean it...use it
Judith Thornton, CAT Publications, 2005, 160pp

Reviewed by Graham Strouts

Judith Thornton – a water and sewage consultant based in Wales and tutor for the Centre for Alternative Technology on their MSc Architecture programme - has produced a readable and comprehensive manual to the usual high standard of the CAT publications. A companion to the also excellent Lifting the Lid - which deals more with compost toilets and reed-beds –The Water Book is of interest to the domestic urban dweller who wishes to manage and understand their water supplies more effectively, the rural dweller who may wish to explore alternatives to a mains supply, and the designer who wishes to manage water in the landscape.

While always emphasizing the need for conservation methods and ways of reducing our need for water, the first chapter deals with the general situation in the UK as regards patterns of water consumption. There follows chapters on the mains and alternatives; water storage and moving water; cleaning the stuff; rainwater harvesting and grey water recycling systems.

Of particular interest is the last chapter on water in the garden.

The text and diagrams are clear throughout and there is full information on the many technical and legal and health issues around safe and efficient water use in many situations, including choice of pumps - referring also to hand-pumps for the low-energy permaculturalist or third-world field-worker - and the installation of effective systems at home.

A highly recommended and useful text.