SolarGizmo

When most people think of water it generally consists of the thought “you turn the tap and out it comes” however water is one of the most valuable resources on the planet, life as we know it couldn’t exist without it. Water keeps us from being thirsty, helps the plants grow and cleans the car and its uses are nearly endless so why do we waste so much of it. This simple guide is aimed at helping you save water and contribute to ensuring that it is always there when we need it the most this summer and as usually it will save you money (especially if you have a water meter fitted to your property).

1- Always ensure that if you see a water leak from a mains supply you report it to the local water authority straight away. You would be amazed to find out how many people see something like this and don’t report it thinking “it’s not my problem”. A mains leak can loose gallons of fresh water every minute it’s left to leak and your local water authority will provide a free phone number for you so it won’t even cost you to call. This number will be provided in your local yellow pages or emergency contact details n the nearest phone box.

2- Don’t leave taps running when brushing your teeth or cleaning. This is just a total waste of water; the water you paid for is literally going down the drain. If you turn the tap off when not in use you can save up to 10 litres a minute of perfectly good water. Dripping taps also offer another waste of water, always ensure you repair a leaking tap before the problem becomes too serious and this saves time, money and water.

3- Wash the car with a bucket of water and not the hose pipe. The bucket will contain enough water for you to make you car shine and the amount of water saved will be in the gallons. How many people do you see in the summer with a running hosepipe in one hand, sponge in the other just talking to the neighbor with the water hitting the ground being wasted?

4- Have a shower not a bath. This hint has been used in hundreds of guides but earns its place in this one because of pure practicality and common sense.

5- Collect rain water in a butt or container for use in the garden. Rain water is pure and readily available here in the UK so no excuses for not doing it really.

6- Have an empty pop bottle full of tap water in the fridge ready for when you need a drink. This save running the tap for a while till cold water arrives.

7- Use an old brick or something similar in your toilet system, this will save large amounts of water and still give the same result. Remember the toilet is one of the most used items in the house.

8- Use you washing machine or dishwasher when you have a full load instead of each occasion you want something cleaned. Not only does this save water but results in a lot less associated cleaning products being flushed down the drain.

9- Turn the temperature of you household boiler down. This saves money and water because of the following reason. Have you ever wondered why the water is the temperature it is? you have to pay to heat the water up then use more water and cost to cool it down to a usable temperature. For example the bath, you fill it with hot water then top up with cold to cool it down so you can get in it? Just reduce the boiler to a more user friendly temperature.

10- As with the carbon emitions guide, speak to as may people as possible about what they are doing to save water and you will find more great ideas and people willing to give it a go themselves. Individually we cannot do a great deal but everyone working together can make a huge impact on the water consumption in each country. Just remember that living in the UK the worst we need to consider is a water shortage and hose pipe ban. Some people in the world die of thirst.

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