Do you know how much water you’re wasting every day? Water is one of the most overlooked resources on our planet and it’s running out faster than we think.
By 2050, the UK population is expected to rise from 67 million to 75 million. As the climate changes and our resources are stressed, the UK is predicted to face significant water deficits. Water wastage will also have a drastic impact on our environment, threatening aquatic ecosystems by drying up rivers, lakes and aquifers. Not to mention wasting water unnecessarily raises your bill each month.
Despite all we know about the importance of water, we still take it for granted. This Water Saving Week (15 -19 May 2023), we’re encouraging everyone to practice water conservation and highlighting the ways we can all save water in our daily lives.
In this blog, discover four ways you may be wasting water and how you can better observe your water usage this Water Saving Week and beyond.
1. Leaving the tap on while brushing your teeth
It’s surprising but leaving the water running while you brush your teeth can waste four gallons of water each time. Keeping the tap on in between rinses won’t make your teeth any whiter, but you can save a lot of water by simply turning off the tap. Additionally, rinsing from the tap like a water fountain wastes way more water than you think. One sip from a reusable cup is all it takes to get the job done. You can even further manage your water usage by installing water-saving taps and checking for any leaking taps or pipes.
2. Washing your car with fresh water
A dirty car can drive you crazy, but did you know that washing your car with a garden hose can waste up to 300 litres of water? Although our planet may appear to have endless oceans full of water, less than 1% of it is accessible fresh water. It’s not the best idea to waste all that freshwater on your vehicle. The next time your car needs a wash, try using a bucket, sponge and just as much water as you need. It only takes three buckets to clean your whole car, so you can drive in style and conserve water. If you do rinse off with a hose, be sure to use a water-saving trigger attachment to help reduce water waste. This device will pulsate to better regulate the flow of water and save you from scrambling for the tap.
3. Taking very long showers
We all love spending time in the shower – especially when we think no one can hear us sing. But your shower concerts aren’t just harming your neighbours. The average modern shower uses 50 litres of water in 5 minutes. In an hour, you’ve sent enough water down the drain to fill seven bathtubs. The obvious answer? Shorter showers. Showering for one minute less every day could save the UK £240 million in energy costs. Mounting a shower timer to your wall is one great way to keep your showers short. But if you can’t bear to leave your shower any earlier, try using a water-saving shower head. The smaller holes restrict the flow of water, giving you the same powerful spray while using half as much water.
4. Loading your washing machine too often
Your washing machine uses 50 litres of water per cycle, which is about the same amount as 25 bottles of soda. If you’re like most people, your favourite four tops are probably getting washed more often than they should. Fortunately, there are lots of ways to reduce the amount of water wasted in this process. Going a few days between washes and running only full loads of laundry can make a big difference in cutting down on water consumption. Did you know that the most energy-exhausting part of the laundry process is turning cold water to hot? Rinsing your clothes has little effect on stain removal, so cold water works just as well for washing away detergents. You can also consider switching to a more efficient washing machine – you won’t regret the energy savings.
Grundon has been conducting water audits for a number of years to identify potential leaks at our facilities. After an initial round of inspections, we found inefficient cisterns and urinals at several sites; water-saving Cistermiser devices were then installed, which reduced urinal flush rates by 80%. We plan to put a special focus on water consumption in the coming year, reviewing our assets and plugging any leaks at our facilities.
Be sure to follow #WaterSavingWeek on social media to learn tons of helpful tips and strategies for saving water. Share your own content and help spread the word to fight the water crisis and ensure a water-safe future for our planet. Visit waterwise.org.uk to find out more.