The UK has less available water per person than most other
European countries.
London is drier than Istanbul, and the South East of England has
less water available per person than the Sudan and Syria.
On average, we all use 160 litres of water a day in the home for
cooking, drinking and washing. Modern appliances; such as
washing machines and dishwasher, help us but use vast amounts of
water. Small changes in our daily routine will save water –
for a few ideas and tips, click on the link below:
Use water wisely
- A family of four can save 220 buckets if water a month by
turning the tap off when they brush their teeth.
- Don't overwater the lawn, it encourage surface rooting and
susceptibility to drought damage.
- Choose drought resistant bedding plants such as alyssum,
geraniums, French and African marigolds and petunias or plant
perennials such as aquilegia, campanula or heuchera.
- Water plants in the early morning of evening when it is cooler
and there is less chance of loosing the water to evaporation by the
sun.
- Don't let your hose pipe or sprinkler run unnecessarily and
direct your watering only where it is needed. Better still
use a watering can.
- 90,000 litres of rain fall onto a typical roof in any
one year, that's enough to fill 473 water butts. Capture
rainfall all year round by placing a water butt by sheds,
greenhouses and conservatories.
- If filling a new pond, leave the water to stand for 24 hours
before introducing plants and fish to reduce the chlorine
content.
- Once it is cooled bath or shower water and laundry rinsing
water may be used on your plants. Washing up water can be
used if it is not greasy.
- When doing the laundry either use half load setting when
necessary or only use when you have a full load.
- Dripping taps can waste over half a litre every 10
minutes. Replace washers on dripping taps and leaky
plugs.
- If your making a drink, fill the kettle with only the water
you need.
- Tap water is the cheapes way of buying water and can taste
just as good. Store tap water in a covered container in the
fridge.
- A save-a-flush can save up to 1 litre of water per flush.
- A bath can use as much as 80 litres, whereas taking a shower
can save almost two thirds.
For more handy hints on saving water, click below.
-
Water Efficiency Flyer