10 Quick Ways to Be More Eco-friendly With Water
There are many small tweaks and easy adaptations you can put into practice to save money and the environment
The best thing about water-saving adaptations in your home is you get to feel good twice – first by knowing you’re doing your bit for a better environment, and second when you get your water bill. Combined with a few simple changes to your habits, small changes in your home can make a big difference. From easy (do it now!) to medium complexity (some installation work required), here are 10 ideas to implement. What are you waiting for?
Challenge yourself to take a shorter shower
A shower can use anything between 6 and 45 litres per minute. That means a 15 minute shower could cost you anywhere from 90 to a whopping 675 litres of water, so each minute you don’t spend showering will quickly boost the savings. And definitely don’t brush your teeth in the shower – this is not water-efficient at all.
A shower can use anything between 6 and 45 litres per minute. That means a 15 minute shower could cost you anywhere from 90 to a whopping 675 litres of water, so each minute you don’t spend showering will quickly boost the savings. And definitely don’t brush your teeth in the shower – this is not water-efficient at all.
Turn off the tap
Did you know that if you turn the tap off when brushing your teeth, you can save up to 6 litres of water per minute? So if you’re brushing your teeth for the recommended two minutes twice a day, that could be up to 24 litres of water per person per day! Educate your kids to turn off the tap, too – they’ll soon get into the habit.
Did you know that if you turn the tap off when brushing your teeth, you can save up to 6 litres of water per minute? So if you’re brushing your teeth for the recommended two minutes twice a day, that could be up to 24 litres of water per person per day! Educate your kids to turn off the tap, too – they’ll soon get into the habit.
Aim for full loads
Always try for full loads in your washing machine and dishwasher. This cuts out unnecessary ‘in-between’ washes, which, if you don’t have a water-efficient dishwasher or washing machine, can save you a ton of water. OK, you might need to buy a few extra pairs of pants, but you’ll quickly make the money back in water savings.
Always try for full loads in your washing machine and dishwasher. This cuts out unnecessary ‘in-between’ washes, which, if you don’t have a water-efficient dishwasher or washing machine, can save you a ton of water. OK, you might need to buy a few extra pairs of pants, but you’ll quickly make the money back in water savings.
Use your fridge for efficiency
Here’s another simple idea that’s particularly good for the summer months. Rather than running the tap until it gets cold every time you want a drink, just fill a jug with tap water and put it in your fridge. There are some really nice jugs out there – try one with a charcoal filter. Less time spent running the tap unnecessarily = water savings.
Here’s another simple idea that’s particularly good for the summer months. Rather than running the tap until it gets cold every time you want a drink, just fill a jug with tap water and put it in your fridge. There are some really nice jugs out there – try one with a charcoal filter. Less time spent running the tap unnecessarily = water savings.
Reduce your flush
The next fix involves a small adaptation, but tackles one of the largest water-wasters in your home – the toilet. Flushing toilets are truly one of the cornerstone inventions of the modern world, but they can generally do the job with less water. Place a cistern displacement device in your dual-flush toilet cistern to reduce the volume of water used in each flush; you can get one of these from your water provider.
The next fix involves a small adaptation, but tackles one of the largest water-wasters in your home – the toilet. Flushing toilets are truly one of the cornerstone inventions of the modern world, but they can generally do the job with less water. Place a cistern displacement device in your dual-flush toilet cistern to reduce the volume of water used in each flush; you can get one of these from your water provider.
Install a water butt
Make the most of rainy days by installing a water butt under your drainpipe. You can use the water collected to give your plants a drink, wash your car and clean your windows – and feel rather smug that each litre you used didn’t cost a penny.
You could take this one step further and install a rainwater harvester. This is basically a water butt underground with a filter in it. It does the same as the basic butt, but also provides water for your toilets and washing machine. It’s incredibly satisfying to know that every time you flush the toilet, it’s completely free. You also get softer clothes as a bonus, as the water hasn’t been treated. The premium pack can add a filter that makes it safe to drink, too.
Make the most of rainy days by installing a water butt under your drainpipe. You can use the water collected to give your plants a drink, wash your car and clean your windows – and feel rather smug that each litre you used didn’t cost a penny.
You could take this one step further and install a rainwater harvester. This is basically a water butt underground with a filter in it. It does the same as the basic butt, but also provides water for your toilets and washing machine. It’s incredibly satisfying to know that every time you flush the toilet, it’s completely free. You also get softer clothes as a bonus, as the water hasn’t been treated. The premium pack can add a filter that makes it safe to drink, too.
Swap your hose for a watering can
Much as showers can quickly use more water than we realise, a hosepipe can pump out the H2O at quite a rate, using around 1,000 litres of water an hour. So consider watering your garden with a watering can instead.
In addition, mulching your plants (with bark chippings, heavy compost or straw) and watering in the early morning or late afternoon will reduce evaporation, saving water.
Much as showers can quickly use more water than we realise, a hosepipe can pump out the H2O at quite a rate, using around 1,000 litres of water an hour. So consider watering your garden with a watering can instead.
In addition, mulching your plants (with bark chippings, heavy compost or straw) and watering in the early morning or late afternoon will reduce evaporation, saving water.
Take advantage of new technology
Always seek to make your home more efficient and take advantage of ever-improving technology whenever you need to replace household goods and products. Where water-saving is concerned, the range is impressive: you can now buy water-efficient shower heads, taps, toilets, washing machines and dishwashers, to name a few.
For more information, check out the Energy Saving Trust.
More: Can I Make My Home More Ecofriendly?
Always seek to make your home more efficient and take advantage of ever-improving technology whenever you need to replace household goods and products. Where water-saving is concerned, the range is impressive: you can now buy water-efficient shower heads, taps, toilets, washing machines and dishwashers, to name a few.
For more information, check out the Energy Saving Trust.
More: Can I Make My Home More Ecofriendly?
Check the water meter
Finally, frequently celebrating your water-saving successes will make it easier to keep up the good work. Install a water meter: when you’re paying your utility provider for exactly how much water you use, laid out in an itemised bill, there’s an incentive to waste less of the stuff.
It’s also a great way to engage and educate the family in what they consume on a regular basis. For kids, you can make it into a game by setting the challenge to stay under a certain number every week.
For more information on water-saving, visit Waterwise.
Tell us…
How do you reduce the water wastage in your home? Share your tips in the Comments.
Finally, frequently celebrating your water-saving successes will make it easier to keep up the good work. Install a water meter: when you’re paying your utility provider for exactly how much water you use, laid out in an itemised bill, there’s an incentive to waste less of the stuff.
It’s also a great way to engage and educate the family in what they consume on a regular basis. For kids, you can make it into a game by setting the challenge to stay under a certain number every week.
For more information on water-saving, visit Waterwise.
Tell us…
How do you reduce the water wastage in your home? Share your tips in the Comments.
Spare yourself both one of the most annoying sounds around and a completely unnecessary water-waster: the dripping tap. Entry-level DIY can quickly stop a dripping tap from wasting up to 15 litres of water a day – or almost 5,500 litres a year. Check out one of the many how-to videos online for step-by-step tap-fixing instructions.