The wise don’t waste water

With the Government announcing the launch of its new ‘Love Water’ campaign and to celebrate World Water Week (25-30 August, (https://www.worldwaterweek.org/) the CIPHE takes a look at some of the water-saving steps you can take in your own home. The best thing is that you can do your bit for water sustainability while saving on your water bills too!

• Fix any dripping taps or plumbing leaks - a dripping tap can waste more than 60 litres of water per week if it isn’t rectified!
• As a general rule, take a shower rather than a bath.
• Some showers can actually use more water than bathing (think super drenching power showers), so keep your shower routine short to save as much water as possible.
• If you do have a bath, just fill it up with the water you need.
• When brushing your teeth, turn off taps in-between rinsing your toothbrush.
• Always turn taps off tightly so they do not drip.
• If showers, taps and toilet cisterns are coming to the end of their life, swap for water efficient models. If you are unsure, talk to your plumber, they will be happy to give their advice.
• Talking of plumbers, ask your engineer to do a system health check. This will ensure your system is working as effectively and efficiently as possible. They can also suggest areas where water saving technology can make a real difference to your water usage and bills.
• Try to use electrical appliances such as dishwashers and washing machines when full. While modern high-end washing machines will calculate the load and use water accordingly, many washing machines and nearly all dishwashers will use the same amount of water whether the machine is half empty or full.
• Invest in rainwater butts to catch rainwater. This water can then be used to fill fishponds and water the garden – saving you money on your water bills. You can check out information on safely storing water in rainwater butts here.
• And don’t forget you can use that paddling pool water to give your plants a drink!

The CIPHE always recommends you use a professional plumber to rectify plumbing problems, or to discuss the water saving measures you can take with your plumbing systems. To find a professional engineer in your area visit our find a plumber tool.