The Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs last week officially announced that the midlands and south east of England is in a state of drought, with reports that Britain is experiencing the worst ever water crisis in over thirty years.
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Environment secretary Caroline Spelman has now put the onus on individuals to take action to save the UK's water. In light of this, Radox has compiled a set of tips to help people save water and money.
Research from Radox shows that by simply halving the length of the average daily shower to four minutes, instead of eight, consumers will save a staggering 45,000 litres of water a year which not only helps to alleviate the drought situation but also saves on average approximately £208.
The average person's shower will use up to 62 litres of hot water whilst a power shower can consume as much as 136 litres of hot water per shower. A family of four using a power shower could therefore use up to 200,000 litres of hot water per year - that's enough to fill a standard size swimming pool in 1.8 years.
It's not just the impact on the environment that average shower has - a typical eight minute shower costs the average family £416 a year. However, when taking power showers into the equation showering costs can soar to up £918 a year, with an eight minute power shower using nearly twice as much energy and water as taking a bath! So reducing shower times is not just kind to the environment but kind to consumers wallets as well.
Radox top five tips for saving water in the shower:
1.) Take a slightly shorter shower:
Every 1 minute less time spent in a power shower will save 17 litres of water per person in your household per day / 6205 per year - with a total of 24,820 litres of water for the typical UK family (a family cash saving of £116 per year)
Every 1 minute less time spent in a standard shower will save 7.7 litres of water per person in your household per day / 2810 per year - a total of 11,242 litres of water for the typical UK family (a family cash saving of £52 per year)
2.) Multi-task - To save water and time, consider washing your face or brushing your teeth whilst in the shower.
3.) Turn the shower off when you shampoo - Turning the shower off for one minute while you shampoo your hair and one minute while you condition and 1 min whilst shaving those legs ladies! - could save a typical family £104 per year
4.) Try a low-flow shower head - Replacing your existing shower head with a more efficient alternative can reduce water and energy use, particularly if you currently use a power shower
5.) Check your water temperature - Many people have their water heater set at too high a temperature. The ideal temperature is between 55 and 60 degrees Celsius, but remember to test the temperature of the water that comes out of the tap with a thermometer - thermostats are often inaccurate.
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