World Water Day happens once every year to celebrate water and raise awareness of the people across the globe without access to clean water. The day has been held on the 22nd March every year since 1993 and this year it is all about how water can help fight climate change.
In the UK the average person uses 150 litres of water every single day. We are no doubt more conscious of turning on the taps due to COVID-19, so it seems a great time to reflect on how we can make a positive difference in other areas, whilst spending more time at home.
Using water more efficiently will reduce greenhouse gas emissions and as an environmental company, our carbon footprint is extremely important to us. So, we have decided to take a look at how we can all do our bit to protect our planet.
Here are Ebsfords top 10 tips to help reduce your water waste.
1. Brews for everyone
When making a brew at work, to save energy and water, do your good deed of the day and make one for your colleagues too! Or if you’re at home, only boil what you need, it will save time, electricity, money and most importantly water.
2. Make it rain
Don’t let that rainwater to go waste. An easy way to do this is to install a garden water butt. It can save up to 5,000 litres of water every year! You can use the water for rinsing vegetables, car washing or simply giving the garden a good ‘old watering.
3. Shut the tap off
Yes we must keep following good hygiene practice and regularly wash hands to fight the spread of disease, but generally we are all culprits of it. Leaving the tap on whilst we’re brushing our teeth or washing our face. But simply turning it off in between could save up to 6 litres of water per minute.
4. Early Bird or Night Owl
Did you know you should only water your garden either at the very start of the day or the very end? It will stop the water evaporating in sunlight. It is also worth using a watering can instead of a hose pipe, it could save as much as 1,000 litres of water an hour.
5. Don’t be a dawdler
Cutting an 8-minute shower in half could save you over 30 litres of water and that’s per shower. Set your phone timer to make sure you don’t cheat!
6. Fill ‘er up!
Fill your Dishwasher/ Washing machine to the brim, it will not only save you work but save on water too. Also make sure you use the most efficient energy setting; you won’t know the difference!
7. Don’t be a drip
That dripping tap could be causing a bigger impact than you think, wasting up to 5500 litres of water every year! So, make sure your taps are fully turned off or change the washers as soon as it starts to drip.
8. Recycle your water
Rather than let it go down the plughole, catch wastewater in a washing up bowl and use it to water your garden, it’s too good to go down the drain.
9. Put the fridge to use
Think of all those times you run the cold water tap each time you want an ice-cold drink, why not keep a bottle full in the fridge? It’ll be super chilled and refreshing.
10. Power to the shower
We all enjoy the luxury of a nice long bath but take a shower when you can, it can cut the amount of water used in half.
When it comes to water consumption, are we taking our endless supply of water for granted? We all have a role to play when it comes to tackling the global water crises and following these top tips could make a bigger impact than you’d think.
