By thinking carefully about your water use in the home and changing
some water wasting habits, it is easy to save water.
Although we appear to have plenty of rain in the UK, our water
resources are under pressure. We use 70% more water today than we
did 40 years ago.
Our demand for water increases yearly, to the extent that no
matter what the water companies do, eventually they will not be
able to keep up. Water also requires huge amounts of energy both to
treat it and pump it to our houses, so our thirst for water is
damaging our planet in more ways than one.
The good news is that there are many simple things you can do at
home and work to reduce our consumption of water. As well as
helping to secure our water supply both for ourselves and future
generations, we also benefit in many other ways.
By cutting down on our water use, we can:
· Save money, especially if on a
water meter
· Reduce the possibility of water
shortages and summer water rationing
· Reduce emissions of greenhouse
gases responsible for climate change
· Reduce the amount of energy and
chemicals used in the treatment and pumping of water
· Reduce damage to wildlife
habitats in wetlands and rivers
Water Saving Tips
· Try not to leave the tap running
while brushing your teeth, shave or wash your hands, as this can
waste up to 5 litres of water per minute.
· Vegetables and fruit should be
washed in a bowl rather than under a running tap and the leftover
water can be used for watering house plants.
· Use the minimum amount of water
required when you boil the water in saucepans and kettles; that
way, you'll save energy as well as water.
Consider installing a water butt to collect the rainwater from your
roof, rather than wasting treated drinking water on your garden.
You could have two or more water butts and link them so that when
one is full, the surplus water is diverted into the others.
Avoid pouring waste grease, fat or cooking oil down your kitchen
sink or drain, as these quickly cool and solidify, and the fatty
deposits build up and cause blockages. This is generally only
noticed during periods of heavy rain, when blocked sewers can
overflow onto gardens and into properties. Put all your waste fat
and grease to good use - mix it up into a "bird cake" with some
nuts, seeds and raisins and hang it out for the garden birds to
feed on.
FREE water saving kits are available from
Anglian Water and also Essex and Suffolk Water. The kit
includes water saving gadgets, please visit
www.anglianwater.co.uk/bitsandbobs or
http://www.eswater.co.uk/your-home/learn-about-water/edu-using-water-wisely.aspx
Waterwise
Waterwise is an independent, not for profit organisation focused
on decreasing water consumption in the UK and building the evidence
base for large scale water efficiency. They are the leading
authority on water efficiency in the UK.
·
For further information,
please visit the Waterwise website