Britain is a nation of water wasters, according to a new Defra campaign launched today. The average household uses over 100,000 litres of water a year that’s the equivalent of 317 pints or 150 litres per person per day.
Kate Humble (presenter of Spring Watch and Autumn Watch) is fronting Defra's Water Saving Campaign, challenging the public to make simple changes to their everyday life to save 20L of water a day.
Despite being an island and our reputation for wet weather the UK actually has less available water per head than many European countries including France, Italy and Greece. London, for example, has less annual rainfall than Rome, Paris or Naples.
As pressure intensifies on our already limited water resources from a growing population, infrastructure development, lifestyle choices and climate change water is an increasingly precious resource we need to conserve.
Research shows that 87 percent of people don’t use a water-saving bag in their toilet cistern yet this could save one litre of water per flush with minimal outlay or effort. Similarly only 3 percent use an aerated/water efficient shower head which could save up to six litres of water a minute. Making simple water saving tips can also help you save money through reduced energy bills and water bills if you’re on a meter.
Kate Humble who is spear-heading the campaign says:
"Water is a precious resource but we all waste too much of it. Saving water at home doesn’t need to be a big sacrifice - just spending one minute less in the shower can make a big difference.
"Simple changes can really add up to a better environment - meaning more water for the wildlife and countryside around us as well as saving on carbon emissions generated in the treatment and transportation of water to our taps."
Taking steps now to use water wisely will help ensure the future of our water supply, help to limit the effects of climate change and protect the natural environment and save money in the process.
How To Save Water:
· Turn off the tap when brushing your teeth - this can save as much as six litres a minute.
· Fix a dripping tap - this can save 75 litres per day.
· Installing a cistern displacement device (CDD) such as a ‘Hippo’ in your toilet - this could save up to 5,000 litres a year.
· Take shorter showers - by reducuing your shower by just four minutes can dramatically reduce your water use and wastage.
· Fit a water efficient shower head to your shower - this can reduce the amount of water you use, without compromising shower performance.
· Use a dishwasher for the washing up - hand washing uses about 150 litres per session, whereas a dishwasher can use as little as 15 litres per cycle.
· Fill a jug or bottle with water and keep it in the fridge, to ensure you always have a cool drink - waiting for the tap to run cold for a drink of water can waste more than 10 litres a day.
· Wait until you have a full load before putting the washing machine on - one full load uses significantly less water than two half loads.
· Invest in a water butt to provide you with plenty of fresh water for your garden. Your roof collects about 85,000 litres of rain water a year, which could fill 450 water butts with free water.
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