The recent hot, dry weather has seen our reservoir levels falling, and whilst our water supply can be something we take for granted in the UK, this should act as a reminder that we mustn’t forget that water is a precious resource. According to the Met Office, England 2022, which started with the warmest New Year’s day on record, was the 6th driest summer on record, the driest since 1995, and already this summer, hosepipe bans have been introduced across Kent and Sussex.
We can all play an important part in conserving water, which can reduce our impact on the environment and have the more immediate effect of reducing our bills. The water we use at home is intrinsically linked to our energy bills - according to the Energy Saving Trust, an average household will use around 17% of our total energy consumption to heat water, and each household in the UK uses on average around 345 litres of water each day – that’s 145 litres per head.
When living off the mains gas grid, heating our water usually falls to alternate energy sources such as heating oil, LPG or electricity. So by conserving water and using it efficiently, less hot water needs to be produced, resulting in less fuel being used to heat it and increased energy savings.
But it’s not just hot water we use - we need cold water too, whether it’s to flush the toilet or clean our teeth. If you have a water meter, saving water will save on your water bills too.
In this blog, we’re going to take a look at how small changes to our daily routines can really help save water and save us money too. By adopting water-saving practices, we can all contribute to water and energy saving efforts in order to reduce our impact on the environment – plus its good for our wallets too!
Turn taps off and fill the washing bowl
When brushing your teeth, do you leave the tap running? Turning the tap off when you’re not actually using the water is one of the simplest and most effective habits you can get into and could save considerable amounts of water. When you turn the tap off, you prevent water from needlessly flowing out, eliminating unnecessary water wastage.
In the same way, running a bowl of water to wash up the dishes or when cleaning fruit or vegetables, rather than leaving the tap running and rinsing underneath the water flow, will also save a significant amount of water.
Fill your appliances
Make sure that you fill your washing machine, one of the most heavily used appliances in our homes, or your dishwasher, and use the most efficient water and energy settings. Avoid using the half-load settings as they use more than half the energy and water of a full load. So, running these smaller loads wastes water – and energy. Do take care not to overload the machine as doing so will wear your machine out quicker.
Choose the most appropriate wash cycle, and whenever suitable use lower temperature cycles where you can. Using the 30 degrees cycle or the ECO setting if your machine has one. Also, regularly clean your washing machine’s filter, tub and seals. It’s a bit like with your heating oil or LPG boiler – a well maintained machine will operate more efficiently and save energy and water in much the same was as a regularly serviced boiler will run more economically.
Take shorter showers
Showering can account for a significant portion of a households daily water consumption, particularly if they’re long. You might not be surprised to learn that showers are the biggest source of water going down the drain in our homes.
It's a no brainer! Limiting the time you shower for will limit the volume of water used for each shower. And a shorter shower means less energy will be used, as heating your water requires energy, whether its heating oil, LPG or electricity. So you’ll make energy savings too. Yorkshire Water has created a playlist of 4 minute songs to help you time your shower, or, of course, you could simply use an egg timer.
Using water-efficient shower-heads can make a difference too – they’re designed to maintain strong water pressure while using less water per minute.
And if you usually hop in the tub, switch to showering instead - they use a lot less water. And we promise, they can be just as relaxing.
Save on flushing
Did you know that every time we flush the toilet, it can use up to nine litres of water? Although the amount of water required to flush a toilet depends on the type of toilet you have. But with each of us flushing the loo on average around 6 times a day, that’s a lot of water!
The easiest way to save water is to pop something in the toilet cistern to displace water and reduce the size of the flush. And there are devises you can buy that are designed to do just this. However, why not DIY it!
Take a plastic bottle (one that will fit in your cistern), put a few pebbles in the bottom, and then fill it with water and place it at the back of your toilet cistern. It will take up space and allow the regulator to turn off earlier than normal after each flush, whilst ensuring your toilet has a constant amount of water. That means savings with every flush!
Don’t be a drip - repair the drip!
A dripping tap can waste a significant amount of water if not repaired swiftly. Even a small drip can, over time, add up to a significant volume of wasted water, which is why it's important to repair or replace faulty washers, seals or valves as soon as you notice your tap is starting to drip. And this goes for kitchen taps, bathroom taps, and even outside taps.
Reuse and recycle
You can avoid wasting water from running taps while waiting for hot water – just pop a bucket or bowl under the water to catch it, and you can then use it elsewhere. Perhaps to water your plants instead of getting the hosepipe out. A great way to minimise waste, especially during a hosepipe ban! And collecting rainwater in water butts, which can be picked up at your local DIY or garden centre, for other outdoor jobs such as cleaning the car, or washing down your patio is another great way to save water and money.
Use water wisely
If you're not on a water meter at the moment, switching to one can be an effective way to save water – and save money. With a water meter, you only pay for what you use, rather than paying a fixed rate. This can create an incentive to watch your water consumption more carefully and reduce your usage. What you would save would depend on how much you use, and your water company should be able to help you determine whether you’d be quids in by changing over to a meter.
Remember, every drop counts! Save water – and save energy. And ultimately you’ll also save on your heating oil or LPG costs too!