Reduce your Water Usage
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A Drop In The Ocean....
We all take it for granted that when we turn on the tap at home a plentiful stream of clean water appears.
But what if it didn't? Water is essential to our everyday lives and we have to look after it as the precious natural resource it is. Our climate is changing and this will have an affect on the amount of rainfall that we get. Rainfall patterns and locations are likely to change along with the climate. In time, places that already get lots of rain could get even more. This rainfall is likely to be in more concentrated periods rather than spread throughout the year however, which means it will be more common to have periods of flooding and possibly drought.
Places that get little rain are also likely to get get even less. This means that water will need to be used much more carefully to make sure we have enough to go round.
The Met Office predicts that there will be a 3°C rise in temperatures in the UK over the next 100 years. By contrast the rise in global temperatures since the last Ice Age, 20,000 years ago, is only estimated to have been 5°C.
This uncertainty means that it is even more important that we save what we can where we can. If we all take a few simple steps, we can all have a part to play in making sure that we carry on enjoying the benefits of a plentiful supply.
- Each person in the UK uses about 160 litres of water a day, but only 15 litres are for drinking and cooking.
- We use 70% more water than we did 40 years ago, and in some areas of the UK rivers are being damaged because too much water is being taken out of them.
- Only 0.008% of the planet’s water is available for human consumption and is found in lakes, rivers and underground aquifers. At least 13% of that 0.008% is in Brazil!!
Saving Water in the House
Even small changes to the way you live can make a big difference to both the environment and often to your wallet as well! 20-25% of your consumption of domestic energy is used to heat water in the kitchen & bathroom - so use less hot water & reduce your bills.
Here are a few tips on how:-
Here are a few tips on how:-
- A shower only uses one quarter of the water needed for a bath. If everyone in the UK took a shower instead of a bath then collectively we could save as much water in a week as it would take to fill Wembley Stadium 10 times.
Importantly though, some power showers can use more water than a bath!
- Washing a mug under a running tap uses about a litre of water. Washing six mugs in this way uses about the same amount of water as a whole bowl of washing up, so put the plug in or wait until you have a full bowl of dishes to wash!
- A single washing machine cycle uses up to 120 litres of water (approx 26 gallons) - and the average family uses their washing machine five times a week. That’s over 31,000 litres (approx 6,800 gallons) in a year. If you have an economy cycle or half load button, then use this.
- A third of an average family’s water use is flushed down the toilet (the equivalent of two bathfuls of water a day). Use a flush saving device in your cistern to save a litre of water each time you flush. These devices are simple and are usually a packet containing crystals. When you place the packet in your cistern, the water makes the crystals inside it expand, this makes the packet swell which displaces water. This means that you use less water each time you flush. Flush saving devices can be obtained free from the Severn Trent Water or Yorkshire Water websites depending on who supplies your water.
- If you have a dual flush cistern, you already have a water saving toilet! Use the ‘short' flush mechanism.
- Mend dripping taps - one drip per second wastes around 1,200 litres of water in a year; that’s around 4 litres a day; and 90 litres of water if the drips are breaking into a stream. Turn off taps your completely when they are not in use.
- Locate your stop tap so that you are prepared if you need to turn off your supply in an emergency.
- If everyone in the UK turned off the tap whilst brushing their teeth, we could collectively save as much water in a week as it would take to fill the Millennium Dome.
Saving Water in the Garden and Outside
- Strain away fats and food scraps and use your dishwater to water your plants, it also kills aphids.
- A garden sprinkler uses approximately 1,000 litres of water each hour, the same amount as an average family would use over two days. This is unnecessary. Use a watering can to deliver water exactly where it is needed or, if needs be, a hand held hose as this is less likely to be forgotten and left to run for hours.
- Both Severn Trent Water and Yorkshire Water's policy is that customers who use a sprinkler, an automatic watering system or have a swimming pool must have a water meter fitted. See the Useful Numbers section below.
- Use a water butt to collect rainwater for use in the garden - but make sure it is safely positioned to prevent children gaining access. Water butts can be purchased from garden centres or from the discount schemes organised from time to time by your Council or water company.
- Don’t use a hose to wash your car as this wastes up to 300 litres or 33 buckets full of water.
- One way the water companies are doing their bit is by trying to reduce leakage from the system. if you see a leak, report it to your water company. See the Useful Numbers section below.
Useful Numbers
For more information on water meters ring:
0845 709 0646 (Severn Trent Customers)
08451 242424 (Yorkshire Water Customers)
Information on water meters is also available from each company's website.
To report a leak contact:
0800 783 4444 (Severn Trent Water)
0800 573 553 (Yorkshire Water)
or you can report leaks online at each company's website.
So, It may seem like a drop in the ocean, but these small changes really do make a huge difference - Make that change today!
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