Water droplet wearing tshirt saying water saving week

CONSUMERS are being urged to soak up and be inspired by simple ideas to help them save water and in some cases money during Water Saving Week (March 22 to 28).

The Consumer Council for Water (CCWater) is supporting Waterwise’s week of water-saving activities, which aims to raise awareness of the pressing need for all of us to be more water-efficient.

Many people may be surprised to hear that our water supply is under intense pressure in the UK, with less water available per person than most other European countries.

Each of us on average uses about 150 litres of water per day but the good news is there is no shortage of things we can all do to reduce our water use – and it’s often the smallest changes that can make the biggest difference.

Dame Yve Buckland, Chair for the Consumer Council for Water, said: “Most of us take clean tap water for granted but in parts of the UK, particularly the south east of England, water resources are under enormous pressure.

“If we want to ensure water keeps flowing from our taps and in our rivers we all need to think more carefully about how we use water. Water Saving Week is a great opportunity to soak up lots of simple ideas to save water. If you have a water meter there’s the added incentive of being able to save money too.”

Our simple steps to save water:

  • Consider switching to a water meter – Households with a water meter tend to use less water per person on average than those homes that pay fixed, unmeasured charges. By using our water meter calculator you can see whether switching to a water meter could help you save water and money. If there are more bedrooms in your home than occupants it is certainly worth checking – in some cases making the switch can save customers in excess of £100 a year.
  • Replace worn washers on leaky taps – A dripping tap in your home wastes over 5,000 litres of water a year – enough to fill a paddling pool every week of the summer. If you are on a water meter it could also add over £18 to your annual water bill.
  • Install a water-saving shower head – These clever devices can cut the amount of water used by about 30 per cent. Most water companies offer a wide range water saving devices
  • Get a dual flush toilet – According to Energy Saving Trust about a quarter of the water a person uses is through flushing the toilet. If changing your toilet is not an option a simple alternative could be to ask your water company about using a Hippo water saving device.
  • Opt for full loads when using your washing machine/dishwasher – Make sure that your dishwasher or washing machine is full before turning it on to save water and energy. Avoid using the half load settings which use much more than half the energy and water of a full load.
  • Water your garden early in the morning or evening – Avoid the loss of water through evaporation by watering your garden in the cool of the early morning or evening. This will reduce the amount of water lost to evaporation.

Waterwise and CCWater will be sharing a steady stream of water saving tips throughout the week on Twitter, focusing on a different theme each day of the week. To keep track of the advice follow the hashtag #watersavingweek or visit Facebook.com/waterwise