With the UK experiencing the driest summer for 50 years, it’s no surprise that drought conditions have been declared in 8 out of 14 regions.
As the heat continues to rise, rainfall will continue to decrease so we all need to do our bit to conserve water. It is not our responsibility alone, but everybody making small changes can have a huge impact overall.
Keep reading for our top water-saving tips…
Check for leaks
One of the best ways to reduce your water consumption is to spot and fix leaks quickly. A common leak includes cheap dual-flush toilets leaking water into the bowl and leaky taps can leak 300 litres of water a year!
Turn off the tap when you brush your teeth
A running tap can waste about 6 litres of water a minute, so make sure it's turned off while brushing your teeth, washing hands and shaving.
In the garden
To water your plants, try using old bath water (not on fruit or vegetables) or catch rain water in a water butt. And always water your garden and pots with a watering can early in the morning or evening to minimise water evaporation.
Use your dishwasher
Only run your dishwasher on a full load and use the eco setting. You should also avoid pre-rinsing plates which are not necessary. Research by Which? estimates dishwashers are four times more energy efficient than washing dishes by hand.
Don’t use your washing machine
A washing machine can use on average 50 litres of weather for a washing machine cycle, and 90% of clothes washed aren’t actually dirty enough! Wash your clothes less, and use a w’air cleaning device that uses 99% less water and 77% less detergent than conventional laundry methods.
As global warming, due to climate change, increases, so will water shortages as droughts become more frequent. Now is the time to make every drop matter.