Water

Everyone uses water and the hotter the weather, the more we use. This increases the pressure we place on existing water supplies around the country.

The more we demand, the more the water companies need to extract from the underground reservoirs and rivers. The draining of this water can cause suffering to wildlife as it affects their natural habitat. Lower river levels also increase the concentration of pollutants in the water, meaning that there is less oxygen for plant and animal life.

Did you know, on average, each of us use over 50,000 litres of water each year? So, for every 60 people, that’s equivalent to the amount of water in an Olympic size swimming pool!

A few water saving ideas

Here are a few useful water-saving tips:

  • A household with a garden uses up to 50% more water when it's hot outside. Ensure you water plants in the evening once the sun has gone down as less water will evaporate before it's had a chance to soak down to the roots. Try not to use a sprinkler, it can use up to 560 litres an hour.
  • Use water butts to collect rainwater from the downpipes connected to your house guttering. It's better for your plants than mains water and, more importantly, it's free!
  • Turn taps off completely and fix any dripping taps
  • Only use washing machines and dishwashers when they're full, or use the economy setting
  • When buying a new appliances check the efficiency label and make sure the water consumption is under 55 litres per cycle
  • Think about how much water your shower and bath uses - a ten minute shower uses about 50 litres, a bath uses about 80 litres and a power shower 120 litres of water
  • Check who your water supplier is at Water UK. You may also be able to get your hands on some freebies to reduce water use in your home.

    As well as using water efficiently it is important to protect the quality of our water. Buy eco-friendly detergents, there is a good range available at Green Guide Online. You could also try using distilled white vinegar for descaling limescale in kettles or clean your toilet by using a dissolved quarter of a cup of baking soda and 50ml of vinegar in boiling water.