Despite the wet weather we’ve had recently, much of the UK is currently in the midst of a drought. Even with recent rainfall, reservoir levels still remain low. Here are some water saving tips, therefore, to help you to do your bit in conserving this precious resource:
Make your home leak-free
It may sound obvious, but any leaks in your home are wasting water. If you discover a leak, either through taking meter readings, listening for hissing sounds, being vigilant towards damp patches or checking for extra-green areas within your lawn, ask your plumber to fix them as soon as possible. Not only will this help the environment, but also your wallet, as it will save on water bills.
Tap into water saving
Dripping taps are one of the biggest water-wasters within the home. A tap that drips at a rate of one drop per second wastes up to 2,700 gallons of water per year! Therefore, ask your plumber to fix any dripping taps by replacing the washers. Plumbers can also fit tap inserts and aerators which introduce air into the water flow of the tap to maintain pressure but use less water.
Shower-savvy
Just like the tap aerators, water-saving shower heads can be fitted to your existing shower to cut the water use by up to 60 per cent, but not affect its efficiency. They work in exactly the same way as the tap inserts by mixing air into the water, but remember to check with your plumber as to whether your shower and boiler are suitable to have one fitted.
Toilet Cistern Devices
Using 24% of a household’s water consumption, a flushing toilet uses a lot of water! If you do not have a modern dual-flush toilet, either think about replacing the whole cistern or ask your plumber about fitting a Save-a-flush or a Hippo device to your toilet to save between 1 – 2.5 litres per flush. Furthermore, if your toilet flush handle is permanently in the flush position, the water will constantly run, so ask your plumber to replace or adjust it.
