Water Conservation

Some parts of the planet are becoming near deserts, so we must act now to conserve one of life's most essential and precious elements, water.

Water is something that many of us take for granted, not thinking twice before lazing back in a hot bath at the end of a hard day or carelessly leaving the sprinkler on in the garden. But recent hot summers have left water restrictions in place worldwide, and few have failed to get the message that water is fast becoming a luxury rather than something we take for granted.

Global water consumption has risen almost tenfold in the last century, and UNESCO has predicted that by 2020 water shortage will be a major worldwide problem, bringing with it disease, malnourishment, crop failure and environmental damage. So each and every one of us needs to take responsibility for the amount of water we consume.

SAVING WATER IN THE KITCHEN AND LAUNDRY

One of the easiest ways of saving water in the kitchen/laundry is to install a water-efficient dishwasher and washing machine and ensure that you fill them right up each time.
If you wash by hand, use minimum detergent to cut back on rinsing, and use a plugged sink or a bowl of water.
Use only as much water as you need in kettles or saucepans to cut your electricity costs at the same time.
Flow-controlled aerators for taps are simple devices that you fit into existing tap nozzles, and mix air with water under pressure as it emerges from the tap without affecting the flow rate. They can be bought at most DIY and bathroom stores, are inexpensive and can halve water flow.
Try to capture 'warm-up' water for use on plants, rinsing dishes, washing fruit and vegetables, or other cleaning jobs.
Insulate hot water pipes so that you need to run less water before it heats up. Equally, keep a bottle of drinking water in the refrigerator so you don't need to run the tap until the water is cold enough.
Don't use a garbage-disposal unit. They use about 30 litres of water per day and send a lot of extra rubbish into the sewers. Compost what you can and bin the rest.

BATHROOM

Take showers rather than baths, and keep them short; use a timer if you have a large family. Power showers can use more water than a bath in less than five minutes, though!
Turn the tap off when brushing your teeth or shaving. A running tap uses about five litres of water per minute.
Install a water efficient showerhead and toilet cistern.

OUTSIDE

Install a rainwater tank that collects runoff from roofs and gutters for garden use, or ask your local council about getting it connected to the toilet for flushing.
If you're watering the garden, make sure you only water plants and lawns, not paths, paving and buildings.
Use a broom or rake to clean outdoor paths and paving instead of hosing them down with water.
If you have a pool, install a cover to reduce evaporation, and persuade pool users to cut back on over-exuberant splashing.
Wash your car sparingly, reusing water from inside, or if you don't have to drive too far visit a commercial car wash that recycles wash water.


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