Saving water
The average person in the UK uses about 150 litres of water per day, and the average household uses 350 litres of water a day. The products that we are installing in houses can help reduce your water consumption by 15%, and these tips will help you save even more. And remember, if you are on a water meter, every litre you save will save you money on your water bill, as well as help the environment.
Mind the tap
Remember to turn off the tap whilst brushing your teeth, shaving or washing the dishes. Try using a glass of water to rinse your mouth after brushing your teeth or a washing up bowl if you are washing dishes.
Stop the drip
A dripping tap wastes at least 5,500 litres of water a year, enough to fill a paddling pool every week for the whole summer. Mending your dripping tap washer could save you over £18 a year.
Short, sharp showers save water
By using a shower timer you can increase your awareness of the amount of time you spend in the shower. Try taking shorter showers to reduce the amount of water you use.
Wash wisely
Always use a full load in your washing machine. One load uses less water and energy than two half loads. If you are looking to replace your machine make sure you purchase one that is both water and energy efficient. Waterwise has ranked all dishwashers and washing machines by water consumption to help you in your choice.
Butt what?
Plants actually prefer rainwater to tap water so if you have a garden visit your local DIY store to purchase a water butt. Try to avoid using a hosepipe since it can easily use over 1000 litres an hour – enough for one person for a whole week. Use a watering can instead and water early in the morning or late in the evening when evaporation rates are lowest. Some water companies offer discounts on water butts, so contact your water company to see if any discounts apply in your area.
Bin it, don’t flush it
Don’t flush unnecessarily.Toilets use a lot of water – about one third of what a person uses in a day. An easy way to save about nine litres a time, is to put face wipes, cotton pads and other rubbish in the bin rather than flushing them down the toilet.
Drinking water
It is important to drink water on a daily basis.But it is a waste to run the tap for ages just to get a cold drink of water. Fill a jug with tap water and leave it to cool in your fridge instead.
For more water saving tips visit www.waterwise.org.uk/savewater or the participating water company in your area:
Merstham and Redhill project area - contact Sutton and East Surrey Water - www.waterplc.com
Tile Hill and Canley project area - contact Severn Trent Water - www.stwater.co.uk
Braintree project area - contact Anglian Water - www.anglianwater.co.uk