Why should I save water?

As we celebrate finally approaching the summer after a long, cold winter it is a great time to think about how we use water and see if we can do more to reduce the amount of water that we use. Some small behavioural changes, for example watering plants with a watering can, or with water collected from water butts or even left-over night-time drinks, can all help us reduce our water consumption, yet still get enjoyment from our gardens in the summer!

It is easy to save water and just as important as saving energy and recycling our waste. On average we all use around 150 litres of water a day (that is about two baths full), and Waterwise believes that by making some simple changes and using water-efficient products most of us can reduce this by one third.

But why should we do this?

First, lots of time, effort and energy is spent treating and pumping high quality drinking water to our homes - amongst the best quality tap water in the world. One third of this is flushed straight down the toilet! Second, we can save money on our water and energy bills by saving cold and hot water. Third, hot water has carbon emissions associated with it - around 6 per cent of the UK's greenhouse gas emissions - as lots of energy is used to heat it. Fourth, much of the UK is water stressed which means that at times there is not enough water for everybody - in these areas, overuse of water places a real strain on the environment. Finally, saving water is the right thing to do! In the same way we might reuse a shopping bag, shop for local produce, recycle our waste or turn off the light we should all start thinking about saving water.

Most people already turn off their TV when leaving the room so why not turn off the tap when you brush your teeth? You may feel that the amount of water saved by doing this is very small but every bit adds up and if everyone in your family does this every day together we can all start to make a real difference. In turn you might even see some savings on your water bill (if you are on a meter) and by saving hot water you will save money on your electricity and gas bills as there is lots of energy used to heat this water.

Other great ways to save water include not using your toilet as a rubbish bin - throw face wipes and cotton pads in the bin instead of flushing them down the toilet. This will save on average nine litres per flush! Waterwise gardening is a great way of cutting down on water waste whilst at the same time still enjoying your garden. Watering plants with a watering can is more effective than a hosepipe and uses a fraction of the water. Mulching your plants, and watering early or late in the day cuts down on evaporation rates - so your plants get more of the water you feed them!

If you are looking to upgrade parts of your home or business, why not think about installing water-efficient devices. There are dozens of water-efficient showerheads now available, all using innovative ways to reduce the amount of water they use, whilst not compromising your shower experience. New water-efficient taps, toilets and dishwashers are all now available - none of which has reduced performance; they just use less water than other models! Waterwise has awarded over 60 products with the Waterwise Marque, which is judged by an independent panel of experts. The Marque is awarded to products that promote water efficiency, are available on the UK market and are of good design and performance. A full list of the Waterwise Marque products and water-saving tips can be found on the Waterwise website.

For more information on water efficiency, a list of products with the Waterwise Marque and more ways on how to save water visit the Waterwise website www.waterwise.org.uk

Jacob Tompkins

Managing Director, Waterwise

photos (c) Waterwise 2010

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