Why Save Water?
Save Money
Installing water-efficient taps and showerheads help to save water and energy by reducing the use of heated water. Around 12% of a typical home’s heating bill is from the water for showers, baths and the hot water tap.
Climate Change
"With population growth, changing weather patterns including hotter summers and drier winters, water is becoming increasingly vulnerable to scarcity, even in the UK. By 2040, we expect more than half of our summers to exceed 2003 temperatures. That will mean more water shortages: by 2050, the amount of water available could be reduced by 10-15%, with some rivers seeing 50%-80% less water during the summer months. It will mean higher drought risk, caused by the hotter drier summers and less predictable rainfall. On the present projections, many parts of our country will face significant water deficits by 2050, particularly in the south east where much of the UK population lives. ” Sir James Bevan, Jaws of Death Speech
The Environment
The efficient use of water helps to minimise the amount of water being extracted from our rivers and helps to protect the wildlife that live in them and rely on them for their survival.
How to Save Water
In the bathroom
Showers, toilets, baths and bathroom sinks account for more than two-thirds (68%) of household water usage.
Switch Showerheads - The average showerhead uses 12 litres of water per minute. Fitting a 'Low flow' or 'aerated' showerhead can reduce the amount of water used to around 6 litres per minute.
Update to a Water Efficient Toilet - Around 30% of total household water usage is from flushing the toilet. Traditional flush systems use around 13 litres per flush. By upgrading to a Dual flush toilet this can be reduced to 4-6 litres of water per flush.
In the kitchen
The Dishes - Installing a tap aerator can help to reduce the flow, similar to the shower. Washing up detergents are also highly effective and using water to pre-rinse the dishes is unnecessary. A simple scrape will do!
Laundry - Make the most of your machine's load capacity and read the manual to understand which cycles are the most water-efficient.
In the garden
Grass - Stop watering your lawn. Grass that turns brown during dry spells will soon bounce back when it rains. If you do have to use a sprinkler, use it in the evening when evaporation rates are low.
Garden Equipment - Attaching a trigger nozzle on your hosepipe will significantly reduce water waste. Consider using a water butt to collect rainwater for re-use in the garden.
Plants - Check the weather before you water. If rain is forecast for tomorrow then it’s ok to leave them alone today.
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