Water conservation - saving water and reducing waste

While this year may not be as bad as some years gone by, parts of the UK still experienced water shortages during the summer, which led to water being effectively rationed. This meant a ban on hosepipe usage, dirty cars, wilted gardens and empty swimming pools. The main concern is that this type of restriction may become commonplace as our winters and summers become drier and warmer. So what can we do to ensure that we do not use too much water in our homes and how can we reuse the water we have saved?

In addition to all this, local water companies are moving towards making the consumer pay for their water usage rather than paying a set amount each year. Programs of adding water metres to homes are taking place all over the country. For some, this can be beneficial and lead to lower bills, but for others it can mean higher water bills and the need to try and save water and money. So what should you do?

Taps

• Turn off taps – This might seem obvious, but many people still let water run while they wash their dishes or brush their teeth, allowing around 9 litres of water to run away each minute.
• Catch the water which runs while waiting for hot water and use to water plants
• An aerator spray attachment on taps will reduce water consumption by 50%.
• Fix leaky taps

Bathrooms

• Take quick showers rather than baths or share bathwater. Use a shower timer and use a lower power shower. Just one minute less per shower per family member can mean 12000 litres of water saved each year.
• Use a water displacement system in the toilet cistern to ensure less water is used with every flush
• Consider not flushing every time...

Kitchen

• Ensure that washing machines and dishwashers are efficient. Only ever use these appliances when they are full. A half wash uses more than half the water
• Keep a jug of water in the fridge rather than running the cold tap
• Use a washing up bowl to wash veg
• Save the water from condenser driers to water plants

The Garden

• Grey water such as that which comes from the shower or bath can be used in the garden
• Rainwater can be used for flushing the toilet or washing the car or patio
• Online sites are the best place to find rainwater harvesting systems which can be attached to the domestic plumbing system
• Use watering cans rather than a hose and use a water butt to collect water

While it may seem that these small steps will not win the war against water wastage, all it takes is for most people to do a few of these things and a huge difference can be made. When it comes down to it, who is going to refuse a shared bath with a loved one anyway?