Smart Ways To Save Water In The Home

We often take having water for use in the home for granted. It is only when the area we live in is hit by a drought and hosepipes bans are implemented that we think about our water consumption. Reducing the amount of water we use is one of the easiest ways to help the environment. Processing water so that it is suitable for us to drink and use in the home uses energy, and when water levels drop emergency supplies can be taken from other sources which can have a negative impact on wildlife. If you have a water meter fitted, there is an extra incentive to saving water. Reducing the water you use will also reduce your bill, and any money that can be saved in these tough times is welcome.

So what can we do to reduce our demand on this often precious resource? Fortunately there are some simple changes we can make in our daily living that collectively can have a big impact on reducing our demand for water.

Take showers instead of baths. Showers tend to use less water than taking a bath, though if you spend hours under a power shower the savings can be less or even reversed. Keep the showers short and use the less powerful settings.

Stop running taps. When washing vegetables in the kitchen or cleaning your teeth in the bathroom, don’t leave the tap running if you are not actually using the water. The same goes for when you are having a shower. While you are shampooing your hair or lathering up, turn the shower off. Turn it back on again when you are ready to rinse off.

Reduce flushing the toilet. To reduce the amount of water the toilet uses when it is flushed pop a brick or purpose made device into the cistern to reduce the space filled with water. If your toilet is old and the bathroom is due for a refit, choose a toilet that has dual flushes and has environmentally friendly credentials. Also, some people choose not to flush after every wee, though this is a matter of personal choice and who the house is shared with.

Fix dripping taps. A tap that drips can waste between 10 to 20 litres of water a day! That’s a lot of water that has served no purpose at all. A tap washer costs very little and it’s an easy job to change it.

Fill the washing machine and dishwasher. Wait until you have a full load before using these appliances. Both use large amounts of water and if you only half fill before commencing the washing cycle, it’s potentially doubling the amount of cycles and water that will have to be used to wash the equivalent of one full load. Many appliances have energy saving settings that can be used, and modern detergents are just as effective at cleaning on these cycles, so for all but the most demanding of washes use these settings.

In the garden, use a watering can instead of a hose. Use a can and direct the water only at the base of the plants where it is needed. A large amount of water from hosepipes is wasted as it falls on the surrounding ground, where it's not needed, or on plants and evaporates due to the warmth of the sun.

Most of these tips for smart ways to save water are simple to achieve and on the most part are just a case of changing our habits. Once we have become used to the changes, we will notice little difference to our day to day living but will be much more effective with the water we use.