With the summer temperatures reaching a scorching 40°C and the UK experiencing the driest July since 1935, water shortages and droughts have become a real concern for those living in the UK.
14% of adults in the UK who pay for their water with a fixed rate bill, don’t take any actions to reduce their water usage. With the average household in the UK using more than 500 litres of water per day, change has to happen.
If we really want to start protecting our environment and conserving water, we need to be thinking about how to save water. Here are some saving water tips that can save your household, and the environment, tens of thousands of litres of water annually.
Ways to save water at home and work
Saving water in your kitchen:
- Wait to run the dishwasher and washing machine until they are full
- If you can, ensure that your dishwasher is energy efficient
- Install aerators on your taps to reduce water flow from 15 litres per minute to 6 litres per minute
- Soak pots and pans instead of running the tap while you scrape them clean
- When washing your fruit and veg, do so in a washing-up bowl and reuse that water to water your plants
Reducing water wastage in your bathroom:
More than 70% of our water usage comes from the bathroom, here are some tips to reduce the amount of water wasted.
- Again, install aerators on your taps
- Install low-flow shower heads
- Reduce showers down to 5 minutes, this uses 40 litres of water which is half the amount of a standard bath
- Don’t fill up the bathtub all the way
- Turn the water off when brushing teeth or shaving to save up to 45 litres/day
- Use the plug in your sink to save the water and rinse your razor to save over 1000 litres per month
- Turn the water off when washing your hair and save nearly 700 litres per month
If you live in a hard water area, you will be no stranger to limescale. Cleaning limescale from your appliances wastes litres of water each time. Installing a water softener will reduce the limescale, resulting in less water wasted, amongst a whole host of benefits to your wallet and the environment.
Conserving water usage in your garden:
With water shortages, a lot of the UK faces hosepipe bans, meaning sprinklers and hosepipes are not allowed to be used. However, when you are able to, here are some tips on how to be efficient with your water usage.
- Water your plants early in the morning or later in the evening when it is cooler
- If you have sprinklers, check them regularly to ensure that only your lawn/plants are being watered and not your house or street
- Water deeply but less frequently for your garden to be healthier and stronger
- Use mulch around trees and plants to enable the soil to retain water and reduce evaporation
- Think about installing a water butt to collect rainwater that runs off your roof
If you have a water meter, you should also be checking this regularly to ensure that you haven’t got any leaks. If you discover a leak, report it to your water company as soon as possible.
Time to start your Water Conservation today
There is no time like the present. Start working on conserving your water at home and not only will you be contributing to saving the environment, but you’ll also be saving yourself money.
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