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When it comes to conserving water, small adjustments can have a big impact.
Conserve water with ideas from our water-saving tips!
Water-Smart Alternatives
Showers & Baths
Switch showerhead
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Low flow shower heads reduce the amount of water used to around 6 litres per minute, whilst still giving you the feel of a normal shower.
Shower duration
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The optimum shower time is 4 minutes. To help keep track of time try using a shower timer or shower to the length of a short song.
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Try to avoid flushing away cotton wool balls or make up tissues, simply throwing them in a bin will cut down on the amount of water wasted with every flush and protect our sewers.
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Remember the 3 P rule: only poo, pee and paper down the toilet.
Toilets
To the toilet!
Maybe to the...Garden?
Garden Equipment
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Pressure washers should be used sparingly or not at all. Look out for water-efficient models that are available.
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Watering cans can significantly reduce the amount of water used (compared to sprinklers) whilst getting the desired amount to your plants.
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Water butts are a brilliant method to catch a large amount of rainwater that falls each year – it’s free water.
Plants
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Lots of people use bathwater on their gardens, this is a brilliant idea. Please remember this is dirty water and should be used immediately, and never on fruit/ veg or near children.
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Use mulch and bark in your garden, it will help to reduce evaporation by up to 75%.
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Check the weather before you water. Many plants can go at least a day without watering, and if you know rain is forecast for tomorrow then it’s ok to give it a miss today.
The Dishes
A dishwasher on an eco setting can be more efficient than washing dishes by hand, if the dishwasher is totally full. However, recent research has found that only half of people say they use the eco setting.
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Avoid pre-rinsing dishes, detergents are highly effective, so all you need to do is simply scrape and place.
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Try adding a washing up bowl or plug into your sink to catch excess. This can reduce water wastage by 50%.
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Adding a tap aerator can help to reduce the flow, similar to the shower.
Drink Enough Water
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Put a large bottle of tap water in the fridge to ensure you can have chilled water all the time.
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Try to fill the kettle with only what is needed, this will save water and energy.
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Using the lid on saucepans reduces the amount of water lost through evaporation. It also helps your lovely veg cook quicker.
Laundry
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When buying a washing machine, check the label or specifications for water use, the best models will typically use less than 7.5 litres per kg.
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Surveys show that a typical load of washing is usually much less than the maximum capacity of the model, so stuff in a few extra shirts to make the most of your loads!