Wise up to water wastage
Contrary to popular belief water scarcity is not just a problem for Southern England. No part of the UK or Ireland is immune from water shortages and in the past decade Scotland, Southern Ireland and even the Lake District have suffered drought. With much of the 150 litres of water we each use on a daily basis being wasted, now is the time to think about how to reduce waste and save our most valuable resource. The key to water efficiency is to reduce the amount of water that gets wasted rather than restricting use. Here, a B&Q advisor suggests how we can reduce water wastage around the house.
In the bathroom:
The bathroom accounts for roughly two-thirds of all domestic water use so is the easiest place to start saving water. Here are some simple tips which can dramatically reduce the amount of water you use:
Turn off the tap when brushing your teeth
Take shorter showers
Don’t use the toilet as a dustbin - each flush can use as much as 11 litres of water!
B&Q stocks a wide range of water saving products to cut the amount of water you use, without changing your lifestyle. Dual flush kits for your toilet start at £19.98 and can save a family of four up to 40,000 litres of water a year.
Showers are much more water efficient than baths - as long as you don’t stay in them too long! The suggested amount of time is three and a half minutes. However, even reducing your shower time by one minute can make a difference. More than five minutes in a power shower which uses 20 litres of water a minute, can use as much water as a bath. Some showers, such as the Mira Sprint Electric Shower have an eco setting which reduces the flow of water, but the best way to save water is by challenging yourself to reduce the time you spend in the shower. This will save both water and money on your energy bills!
In the kitchen:
The kitchen accounts for more than a quarter of household water consumption and is another easy place to save water.
Wash vegetables in a bowl rather than under a running tap
Only run washing machines and dishwashers when they are full
Keep a jug of water in the fridge to stop you running the tap while it gets cold
All these are simple ways to reduce the amount of water you waste. When buying a new dishwasher or washing machine, make sure it is A-rated for energy efficiency. On the Waterwise website www.waterwise.com you can find information on the efficiency of all dishwashers and washing machines available in the UK.
B&Q sells taps with an ECO-click feature. As the tap is tuned on, the user experiences a subtle resistance to discourage them from turning the tap to full flow.
Leaks and drips:
A dripping tap can waste 20 litres of water a day, so make sure that all drips are fixed and pipes are properly lagged and sealed. A pack of mixed tap washers costs just 98p, and can make a huge difference. For tips on how to repair dripping taps and lag pipes, B&Q has a step-by-step guide to home improvement - You Can Do It, priced £19.98.
Take the Water challenge:
B&Q has launched a water calculator on its website: diy.com/savewater which can be used to estimate how much water you use on a daily basis. Try implementing some water saving measures such as those mentioned above, and then take the water efficiency test again in a month’s time to see how much water you have saved.
If you need additional advice, you can ask one of B&Q’s staff at your local store. Alternatively visit the B&Q website: diy.com
