If you have a water meter, or are just keen to do your bit for the environment, saving water is really important. We have just had the driest September on record, and despite a wet year last year, there is never a bad time to reduce your water use. There is no point using clean potable water where you could use greywater, or no water at all. In this blog, we are going to give you our top 10 ways to save water:
- Buy a water butt – You will need a garden to put it in, but if your means allow, a water butt will really help you cut down on your water use. Use the water you collect to feed your garden and water your houseplants. You can pick up a water butt for as little as £20.
- Water saving tap aerators and showerheads – Get yourself a quality water saving shower head. They maintain the quality of the shower and use much less water. Great because this is a gadget you never need to even control.
- Use an eco kettle – This simple appliance prevents you from heating too much water at a time. Really clever because heating your water with an element is expensive, and a waste of water!
- Try the Efergy energy saving water monitor – Using a water monitor in the shower will help let you know how long you take, and help to cut the amount of time you spend.
- Use a dishwasher – Contrary to common belief, a dishwasher actually uses less water than washing up under a running tap, so get yourself a dishwasher and use it – but make sure it’s full!
- Full load for your washing – Most washing machines allow you to select a half load, or an economy mode. Try to use these low water use settings wherever possible.
- Dripping taps waste more than you think – Leaky taps waste a lot more water than it might first appear. A dripping tap can waste 15 litres of water a day, that’s around 5,000 litres a year. That is a lot of water you could have saved by fixing your tap and if you are on a meter that will equate to around £20 a year – a lot for just one tap!
- Don’t use a hose – Watering your garden with a hose is bad news for the environment and for your efforts to save water. You can use a hundreds of litres watering your garden with a hose, and just a fraction using a watering can. Remember to use the water from your butt wherever possible. Also try to water once the sun is down, as this reduces evaporation – using mulch will also help retain moisture.
- Try a cistern water saver like the hippo. These devices prevent the cistern in your toilet from giving you a full flush, reducing the amount of water used by around 7 litres.
- Turn the tap off when you brush your teeth, or when you need water for any everyday task. The shorter the time you have the tap running for, the less water you will use. Try using the plug in the sink. It’s there for a reason.
These won’t apply to everyone, but if you make sure you do all the ones that do apply, you will be saving plenty of water. Also as a final point – it may be worth switching to a water meter, if your home has a low rate of consumption. It won’t exactly save water, but it will help cut your bills.
Think we missed something? Do you have a different opinion?
Comment below to get your voice heard…
Surely switching from baths to a short shower would save a lot of water as well?
I also recommend using the Interflush converter for old single-flushing toilets (http://www.interflush.co.uk/products/interflush-kit/) – I have had had one installed for a year now and it must have saved 1,000s of litres of water. I have also a waste water diverter on the kitchen waste pipe which i use in the Summer for watering the garden – several are available on line.
Thanks for your comments Paul – all really good points! Although on the first point – if you have a power shower in the home, they tend to burn through water so actually it is a pretty fine line between which uses less (bath or power shower)