How much water should I use?
According to the World Health Organization, people should use at least 20 liters of water per day for basic hygiene and 50-100 liters should cover basic needs and prevent health problems from poor hygiene. Average consumption in England and Wales is slightly higher. This averaged around 145 litres, but rose to 153 liters a day during the pandemic as people spent more time at home, according to figures from Water UK. According to Rob Lawson, director of Artesia Consulting, which advises water utilities, the figures hide the fact that most people are moderate users of around 100 liters a day and a small number are very heavy users. The best way to reduce overall consumption is for those who are the biggest water users to reduce – although this is not always possible.
How concerned should I be about my water usage?
Water consumption uses energy, which will have an impact on household bills. Photo: Maureen McLean/Rex/Shutterstock Remember: it’s not just your responsibility. Dragan Savic, Professor of Hydroinformatics at the University of Exeter, points out that around 3-5% of water use is at home and another 5% is used by businesses. Most of the water use is in agriculture. But everyone making small changes can make a huge difference overall. In Germany, consumers successfully reduced their average daily water consumption from 147 to 125 liters between 1990 and 2021 as part of the country’s efforts to combat climate change. Alison Browne, at the University of Manchester, believes people need to rethink the way they think about water consumption. Consider the fact that water consumption uses energy, which will have an impact on rising bills as well as carbon emissions, of which 6% is attributed to water use in homes.
How should I check for leaks?
One of the best ways to reduce your overall water consumption is to spot leaks quickly. Most water companies will provide home visits to help households locate leaks as well as install more water-efficient appliances, Lawson says. Common leaks include cheap double-flush toilets that leak water into the bowl or from the supply pipe that supplies water to each home. Small changes in water consumption can make a big difference. Photo: John Birdsall/Alamy According to campaign group Waterwise, consumers can detect a slow leak by adding a few drops of food coloring to their toilet flush, leaving it for an hour without flushing, and if it’s then in the pan, there’s a leak. Installing a water meter can also help monitor the amount of water you consume. Savic said his research found meter users used 17% less water, in part because of the ability to quickly identify leaks – a leaky toilet can waste 200-400 liters a day. It recommends meters that provide instant feedback to smartphones or wall monitors to alert consumers of leaks or overuse. Browne suggested looking out for leaky faucets and drains outside your home and learning who to report them to at workplaces, restaurants, stores and other locations.
How often should I shower?
Bathrooms and showers represent the largest water consumption in the home. Photo: Getty/GlowImages Most people in the UK shower at least once a day, according to a YouGov poll – although dermatologists say it’s not necessary unless you’re exercising or exposed to dangerous chemicals and it can be bad for your skin . According to Waterwise, bathrooms and showers account for the largest water consumption in the home, at around a third. Surprisingly, some high-pressure showers can use more water than a bath, although a short shower (about four minutes) with an efficient aerating or low-flow showerhead is the best option. A typical five-minute shower uses around 50 liters – although a low-flow head only uses 30 – while a full bath uses 80 litres. “Low-flow shower heads would be my first choice for reducing water consumption in a home,” says Savic. Browne recommends people “bring back the habits of our grandparents” and use a tank top to cool off or do a quick cleanse instead of jumping in the shower. She also suggests channeling your inner free spirit and letting go of our societal commitment to cleanliness. Once you are clean enough to stay healthy, further cleaning doesn’t really help. Her research found that people at festivals “really, really enjoy the luxury of lowering expectations around the daily shower”, and it was something people said they appreciated working from home during the pandemic as well.
How else can I save water in the bathroom?
A running tap wastes about six liters of water per minute. Photo: Westend61/Getty Perhaps unsurprisingly, the answer is not to put a brick in the toilet, which plumbers discourage as they can chip and damage the structure. Instead, you can request a cistern diverter free of charge from most water companies, which saves a liter every time you flush, or up to 5,000 liters a year. Archie Bland and Nimo Omer take you to the top stories and what they mean, free every weekday morning Privacy Notice: Newsletters may contain information about charities, online advertising and content sponsored by external parties. For more information, see our Privacy Policy. We use Google reCaptcha to protect our website and Google’s Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply. Toilets account for around 30% of household consumption, although this is much higher for older models, according to Waterwise. They should ideally be updated with a split flush button that gives the user the ability to choose how much water to use. Savic also suggests turning off the tap while brushing teeth, washing hands and shaving to save a “significant” amount of water – a running tap wastes around six liters a minute.
What about washing dishes and clothes?
Hand washing uses much less water than a washing machine. Photo: Matthew Ashmore/Stockimo/Alamy Look for a water-efficient model when buying dishwashers and washing machines, fill both as much as you can and use the eco mode. For dishwashers, avoid pre-rinsing the dishes (not necessary). If hand washing, use a bucket to catch and reuse water. Research by Which? estimates that dishwashers are, on average, four times more water efficient than hand washing per seat. Hand washing uses much less water, around eight liters a bowl wash and 30 liters for each tap wash, compared to an average of 50 liters for a washing machine cycle (although this depends on the model). If the thought of hand washing scares you, consider washing your clothes less often – they’ll last longer and it’s also more sustainable.
How can I take care of my garden?
Try using old bath water to refresh wilted flowers in your garden. Photo: Tara Moore/Getty As droughts increase, there is a growing backlash against water-intensive suburban status symbols like manicured lawns and thirsty plant species like begonias. If you’re hesitant to part with them, try reusing old bath water (though not on fruit and vegetables), capturing rainwater in water (some companies will subsidize your purchase), and using hydrogels, mulch and bark to reduce evaporation. and watering stations. Waterwise says people don’t need to water their lawn when it turns brown – it’ll quickly return to green when it rains and save you using 12 baths of water an hour with a hose or sprinkler. Check the weather forecast – if it’s raining, your plants can wait – and water in the early morning or late afternoon to minimize evaporation.
Should I go to my hot tub/pool?
Emptying and refilling a paddling pool every day for a week could use up to 3,700 liters of water. Photo: Denis Closon/Rex Features It’s tempting to cool off during a heat wave in a paddling pool, but remember that there is a ban on using rubber bands in many parts of the country. Severn Trent Water warns that emptying and refilling a paddling pool every day for a week could use up to 3,700 liters of water, the equivalent of 102 showers. As a general rule outside of dry periods, if you must use a paddling pool, fill it halfway, hold the water for three days and then use it again in the garden. Hot tubs have been a popular pandemic impulse buy, but according to Browne that means more households have “incredibly water-intensive structures sitting in their yards.” The hot tub and swim spa company estimates that a small hot tub can hold around 6,592 liters of water, while a larger, family-sized hot tub could require 11,365 liters – more than 100 times the recommended daily consumption level. Total usage depends on how often you change the water – recommendations vary from one to six months. It would be better for everyone to use public pools and baths, yet 600 have closed in the last three years. Browne believes affordable access to swimming should increasingly be considered a public health priority, along with improving water quality at wild swimming spots. This article was amended on 13 August 2022 to clarify the details of the food toilet staining test and to refer to water meters rather than smart meters.
