We’re all more conscious than ever about the impact which our actions have on the environment. Water consumption is a huge issue, and scientists believe that this problem is going to become more acute as we feel the effects of climate change. But there are simple steps which many of us can take to reduce how much water we use. If you’re on a water meter, this will have the attractive side-effect of reducing your bills too.

Are showers better than baths?

In general terms, a shower uses a lot less water than a bath. But if you’re the sort of person who stands for 5 minutes under a power shower, you could be using over 60 litres of hot water. Although baths use around 120 litres, double the length of your shower, and you’re using the same amount of water. Try to cut your showering time to a minimum if you’re trying to save water. There are several shower timers on the market which will help focus the mind and stop you wasting so much water.

Low Flush Toilet

A standard toilet in the UK uses around 6 litres of water every time you flush. Low flush toilets have been designed to save water by giving the option of a standard flush or shorter flush. This style of toiler is also often known as a dual flush toilet. They are the same price to buy and install as any other type of toilet, but it’s probably not worth taking out a perfectly good toilet just to replace it with a dual flush one. Wait until you’re shopping for a new bathroom and make the switch at that point. If you’re really serious about going green, look into rainwater harvesting systems which store water which falls on your roof, and uses it for tasks such as flushing the toilet or watering the garden.

Fix the Drips

Amazingly, one dripping tap can leak enough water in a day to fill your bath. Usually, the cause of a dripping tap is a worn-out washer, and it’s a relatively simple job to turn the water off at the mains, unscrew the tap and replace the washer. There are lots of instructional videos online walking you step by step through the process. A dripping shower head is down to similar issues, and replacing the head is just a matter of unscrewing the old head and replacing it. You don’t even need to turn the water off at the mains first.

Turn the taps off

It’s easy to get into the habit of letting the tap run while you brush your teeth or shave. Switching off the tap as you brush could save at least two litres of water. Multiply this by the number of people in the house, and assuming everyone brushes twice a day, and it’s easy to see that there are significant savings to be made. Get into the habit of using the plug as you wash, rather than allowing the water to flow down the drain.