Be water wise this water saving week

Although the earth is often called the blue planet, out of all the water on the planet there is less than 1% accessible fresh water for us to use. It is important that we use water wisely and cut down on wasting this precious resource.

Population growth, rising water use and climate change will increasingly affect future water resources in the UK. If water efficiency action is not increased, the country could be hit by water shortages by 2050.

Water Saving Week takes place between 13 – 17 May, 2024, with a focus of encouraging all of us to incorporate small water-saving habits into our daily routines, so that collectively we can make a big impact on water conservation.

There are lots of ways to play your part to conserve water.

• Shorten your shower time – a short shower with an efficient showerhead uses less water than a bath. Aim for a 4 minute shower if possible.
• Use your dual flush function on your toilet – this gives the user the choice of how much water to use and typically only uses 4 – 6 litres of water per flush compared to the old style flush system which used 13 litres per flush.
• Turn off your tap – turn off your tap when brushing your teeth – a running tap wastes approximately 6 litres per minute.
• Take time to fix your leaking taps – this could be wasting around 5,500 litres of water a year and could be a simple fix if you just need the washer replacing.
• Use your dishwasher effectively – if you have a dishwasher make sure you use is on the eco setting and always make sure it is full when you use it.
• Check your washing machine manual – find out which cycles are the most water-efficient and make sure you are putting a full load of washing in to make the most of the water and energy you are using during a washing cycle.
• Water your plants with any leftover water – this could be from your drinks, tumble dryer, washing up or even bath water.
• Fill the kettle with just what you need – this will save water and save you money by cutting down the amount of time it takes to boil.
• Be consideration in the garden – if you can, use a watering can to water your plants, collecting water from a water butt in your garden. If you do need to use a hose try attaching a trigger nozzle to halve the amount of water used and help direct the flow to the root of your plant.
  
  

The Waterwise website has lots more tips and advice on ways to save water, visit: Save Water – Waterwise

By making some of these small changes part of our daily habits we could save thousands of litres a year, alongside saving ourselves money and helping the planet.