Did you know that if we keep wasting water in the UK we might run out of water by 2040? We have 32 ways you can save water in your home, including the kitchen, bathroom, and garden. We will also discuss why conserving water is important for our survival and household finances.
Why not save water?
1. Save Money
Water is the most neglected utility. We assume that because we cannot switch suppliers, we can't save any money. Some Brits have managed to cut their water bills by installing water meters and being more aware of how much they use. It is easy to learn simple ways to save money and change your habits once in a while.
Experts estimate that the average person could cut their water consumption by about one-third, from 140 litres per day to 100 litres. Keep reading to learn more about water-efficient showers and taps that can help you cut down on your water bills.
2. Our changing climate
If we keep using water as we do, water will be our most precious resource in the UK. Our climate is becoming hotter and dryer and our national population will increase from 67 to 75 million in 2050. According to the United Nations (UN), water will be the first way that we all feel the impacts of climate change.
Experts warn:
"By 2050, there could be a 10-15% reduction in water availability in the UK, with some rivers receiving 50% to 80% less water during summer months." Sir James Bevan, UK's Environmental Agency
Hotter summer and drier winter could cause droughts that are more severe than the 2003 record drought and heatwave in the UK and continental Europe, which severely affected the UK's agricultural output.
This can be avoided, according to many conservation groups. This includes...
- A third of people's water consumption can be cut by this program
- Reduce water leakage from pipes of water companies by 50%
- Construction of large new reservoirs and additional desalination stations
3. You can also reduce your carbon footprint
Did you know that nearly 1% of the UK's total carbon emissions are from the water industry? Water treatment requires a lot of energy and chemicals, and then water must be pumped through the country's underground pipes. This takes even more energy. It's important to realize that water conservation can have a greater impact on your carbon footprint.
4. Protect wildlife!
You can reduce the amount of water needed to replenish the UK's rivers, aquifers and other freshwater resources by using less water. This protects wildlife that depends on freshwater rivers and aquifers to sustain their existence.
How to conserve water at home
Let's now look at the top 10 best ways to save water.
Bathroom
Showers and baths use the most water in the house, with around 34%. You can make a big difference in your wallet and the world by changing your bathroom water habits.
1. Turn off the tap
Are you letting the tap run in your absence while you brush your teeth or do you just forget to turn it off? It is easy to forget that turning off the tap can help you save up to 9 litres per minute.
2. Leakage in your tap?
Leakage could lead to 60 litres of water being drained down the drain each week. The washer may just need to be replaced.
To fix your leaking tap, check out our How-to fix a drip tap guide. You may suspect that you have a hidden water leak. Read our guide on How to detect a leak in your home.
3. Instead of a bath, take a shower
A 5-minute, short shower can cut down on your water consumption by half. This is a far better option than a bath that uses 80 litres. Low water pressure? Read our guide on How to Fix Low Water Pressure in the Shower.
4. You may need to take a bath every now and again
You don't have to take baths every day if you are a lover of them. Don't fill it up. You can save 5 litres by running it just an inch lower than your normal level.
5. Take shorter showers
Some power showers can be dangerous! Some power showers can use up to 17 litres per minute. Waterwise states that if every household took just one minute to shower each day, it could save PS215 million annually on our collective energy bills.
You can set a timer to see who is the fastest showering superhero in your home. Waterwise says the optimal shower time is four minutes. Waterwise even offers a playlist to help you hit the 4-minute mark.
6. Change to a more efficient showerhead
Water-efficient shower heads allow you to use less water, which can help save water and money
An aerated showerhead reduces water flow but not pressure. This is done by cleverly mixing air and water to replicate the 100% water spray from a standard showerhead. It's amazing! It's worth the investment - an aerated head showerhead can cut down on water consumption by reducing your water usage from 17 litres per minute to just 6 litres per minute. You still get the refreshing feeling of a regular bath - a winner!
7. Your toilet can be more water efficient
Did you know that 30% of your household water goes to flushing the toilet? It is of the same quality as the water that you get from your taps, and it goes right down the pan. There are some things you can do right away to improve the efficiency of your toilet.
a) First, repair any leaks
If you have an unusually high water bill, your first suspect should be a leaking toilet. It can waste 200 to 400 litres per day, which is equivalent to 72,000-146,000 litres annually.
A leaking toilet can be hard to spot because water can quietly drip from places you don't notice. You can detect a slow leak by adding a little food colouring to the water.
Add a few drops of food colouring to your cistern
It should be left alone for at least 30 minutes.
Leakage can occur if food colouring reaches the toilet bowl.
How much water does a dual-flush toilet conserve?
Dual-flush toilets use about 4-6 litres less water than regular toilets which use 13 litres per flush.
In the kitchen
We're now in the kitchen where water can be saved just as easily.
1. Use a bowl or plug in the sink every time
A washing-up bowl is a great way to reduce water consumption when washing dishes, fruits, and vegetables. Water waste can be reduced by as much as 50%. Then, you can use the collected wastewater to water your plants.
2. A tap aerator can be added
The same advice applies to the bathroom: a tap aerator may reduce the flow.
3. Use a dishwasher
If your dishwasher is full, you can use the dishwasher's 'eco' and 'economy' settings to wash your dishes more efficiently. You must only use the eco setting. Do not rinse your dishes before you wash them. Dishwashing detergents are very effective. All you have to do is scrape food residues into the food bin, and then stack them in your dishwasher.
4. Water filter
Instead of running the water tap, keep your water filter in the refrigerator.
5. Only boil the water that you require
Boiling only as much water as necessary will save you water, electricity, and cash.
6. Steam, don't boil, your veggies
Steaming helps reduce water consumption and retains more nutrients in your vegetables.
7. Reduce food waste
Producing meat, milk, fruits and vegetables take a lot of water. Every year, 7 million tonnes of food and drinks are thrown away by UK households. If we were more careful about what we buy, cook and eat, half of this food could be consumed. Wrap, a charity that addresses food and packaging waste, says that households could save PS540 per year by wasting less food.
8. Don't throw away your dirty laundry if you don't have enough to do a full load
Friends of the Earth UK claims that although two half loads are equal in laundry volume to one full load, they use far more water and energy. Modern washing machines are more efficient and water-efficient than older models. The best washing machines will use less than 7 litres per kilogram.
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