What can we do to reduce our water usage
Posted by jane, 914 days ago
If you want to learn about organic food, diapers/nappies or just how to be green then why not join today?
Latest commentsRe: Re: Father Christmas at... by Anonymous
Re: Gateway Primary Christm... by ecosrights
Re: The Bradshaws Christmas... by ecosrights
Re: Re: Re: Nappies - the d... by Anonymous
Re: Re: Re: Lapland UK 2008... by ecosrights
Re: Re: Lapland UK 2008 - B... by Anonymous
Re: Fenwicks Christmas wind... by ecosrights
Re: Re: Ditch those Nasty C... by mandj
Re: Homemade Christmas Pres... by JoP
Re: Ditch those Nasty Clean... by ecosrights
Reading article "What can we do to reduce our water usage" - Reply to this / 27 comment(s)
It seems that no matter what happens, there are going to be drought orders in the south of England within the next few months (although the amount of rain we've had of late, drought is the last thing on most people's minds).
Yes, the water boards have a lot to do to reduce the amount of water wasted by them (be it through leaking pipes or washing their buildings.....) but what can we easily do in the house without spending any money at all?
Lots of things.. don't run the tap while cleaning your teeth; put a bottle of water in the cistern of your toilet to stop it taking so much water to fill; use the water that you "waste" when waiting for hot water to rinse the dishes or wash out a cloth, collect it to water the plants in the house or garden....
Then there's using the dishwasher - what's best, that or doing the dishes by hand? Well that varies from one model to another, but more than anything else it depends on how much you put in the machine. Make sure you don't waste a cycle (same with the washing machine) by only half filling it. And if, like me, you have lots of things that can't go in the dish washer, then don't just wash those by hand, but keep going until the water is too cold / pasts use for cleaning. You may find there's nothing left for the dish washer after that. Another important thing is not to put it to rinse after each item has been added.... what a waste!
If you've lots of plants to water outside, use washing up water (especially if you use a "green" detergent such as Ecover... in fact this is another reason for using green products). Yes, it takes a while to get into the swing of doing it, but in time you'll get used to it. Reply to this
It seems that no matter what happens, there are going to be drought orders in the south of England within the next few months (although the amount of rain we've had of late, drought is the last thing on most people's minds).
Yes, the water boards have a lot to do to reduce the amount of water wasted by them (be it through leaking pipes or washing their buildings.....) but what can we easily do in the house without spending any money at all?
Lots of things.. don't run the tap while cleaning your teeth; put a bottle of water in the cistern of your toilet to stop it taking so much water to fill; use the water that you "waste" when waiting for hot water to rinse the dishes or wash out a cloth, collect it to water the plants in the house or garden....
Then there's using the dishwasher - what's best, that or doing the dishes by hand? Well that varies from one model to another, but more than anything else it depends on how much you put in the machine. Make sure you don't waste a cycle (same with the washing machine) by only half filling it. And if, like me, you have lots of things that can't go in the dish washer, then don't just wash those by hand, but keep going until the water is too cold / pasts use for cleaning. You may find there's nothing left for the dish washer after that. Another important thing is not to put it to rinse after each item has been added.... what a waste!
If you've lots of plants to water outside, use washing up water (especially if you use a "green" detergent such as Ecover... in fact this is another reason for using green products). Yes, it takes a while to get into the swing of doing it, but in time you'll get used to it. Reply to this
Comments
Latest eventsLeeds Castle Christmas 2008 by ecosrights
Gateway Primary Christmas F... by ecosrights
Father Christmas at the Orc... by ecosrights
Christmas Light switch on 2008 by ecosrights
Fenwicks Christmas window 2008 by JoP
Bluewater's winter wonderla... by ecosrights
Transition: Food and Farmin... by Soily
Fireworks Spectacular by ecosrights
Saltwell Park Fireworks 2008 by ecosrights
Blackheath Fireworks 2008 by ecosrights
About ecolocal.co.uk
Ecolocal is free to join - why not register today? Our members can start discussions and comment on all the threads taking place throughout ecolocal.co.uk.Help us build the best source for healthy living and local news by submitting your tips, events and links so that we can all learn how to live a more eco-friendly lifestyle.
OK, so this has a financial impact, but showers.... should we really all be installing power showers in our bathrooms. Yes, they are great and more refreshing, but think of all of the water they use unnecessarily? If you have a 10 minute power shower it uses a lot more than having a bath - just try keeping the plug in and see what happens.... it's quite an eye opener.
Reply to this comment
Do people think they should be made compulsory?
Reply to this comment
http://greenbooks.co.uk/store/product_info.php?...
Reply to this comment
http://timesonline.typepad.com/eco_worrier/2006...
Reply to this comment
Putting a brick in the loo (the upper chamber where it fills up) takes up some volume so not as much water goes in. That saves maybe a few gallons a month...
Reply to this comment
good idea and it's nice and easy (apparently this doesn't work on "new" toilets that meet the guidelines on using less water.... they would take so little water they wouldn't flush properly)
Reply to this comment
There's an initiative running where you can install a rainwater harvesting system and this water will be used to flush toilets etc.
But then again, it can cost £2500+ to fit the plumbing and all that jazz. In the long run - maybe?
Reply to this comment
Rainwater harvesting is a real long-term investment, but a water butt in the garden is cheap and perfect for watering the garden, etc.
Reply to this comment
We don't usually use showers, just can imagine the gallons of water that is wasted and used in just one bath. We don't use dishwasher nor washing machine for the same reasons. The water that is used for these machines are measured and so, much is being used for just one time, can't be recycled. We have a space for rainwater for cleaning up our lawn and some washing up. Water is very important. It must be used sparingly.
Reply to this comment
Rainwater collection is important, and for anyone that has a garden, it can prevent the need for using drinking water for watering. I'm not sure that you'd get enough rain water to use just that for the toilet etc, you'd have to use other grey water such as that from the sink and bath,which is why the systems are so pricey to install. Having said that, if water is going to become a more scarce commodity over time, then we should all be doing it without a 2nd thought
Reply to this comment
Using plants in the garden that are native or indigenous to your area saves on water too because they thrive on the rainfall available.
Reply to this comment
That's an interesting idea - I haven't heard that one. Most of water-conservation centres around the more direct ways to reduce water usage, but that makes a lot of sense.
Or, become a world of cacti.
Reply to this comment
Right. Here in the US lots of people who live in the desert want beautiful green lawns with grass.
News flash! It takes a lot of water to achive that. If you had a yard with desert plants including grasses that thrive in the desert you'd barely need any water. Obviously there aren't deserts in the UK but there are other habitats like heaths and whatnot.
Reply to this comment
I know that heather is great (thinking in terms of all of the moors etc in the UK) and a lot of grasses do well, although they wont be green!
What else can people recommend? Would I be right in thinking that a lot of these plants would also be low maintenance (even better reason for growing them)
Reply to this comment
I know that heather is great (thinking in terms of all of the moors etc in the UK) and a lot of grasses do well, although they wont be green!
What else can people recommend? Would I be right in thinking that a lot of these plants would also be low maintenance (even better reason for growing them)
Reply to this comment
Yes, you are absolutely right. Native plants are definitely low mainenance becaus ethey are growing as they would in nature--not extra watering and no fertilising etc. Maybe someone can recommend some UK dry climate plants? I just think of the climate there as cool and rainy!
Reply to this comment
I plan to install a water tank to collect rainwater.
This will then be used for watering the garden etc rather than using regular water.
Regular water will only be used for drinking and showers.
Reply to this comment
out of curiosity, how much water, on average can be collected using water tanks? I'd like to give it a shot in my garden but i'm curious about how effective they are.
Reply to this comment
Surely that's all going to depend on how large a water tank you buy and how much it rains?
Reply to this comment
I've just been bought a water butt as a birthday present (I know, not exactly conventional, but then neither am I!!).... I bet it doesn't rain for ages, but at least when it does I know I'll be doing my bit by collecting half of the water that falls on the roof of the house (I think we've chosen the best down pipe for it anyway)
Reply to this comment
I have always thought that at least most people ought to be able to reduce their hosepipe usage in gardens. If you have enough space for a proper garden, you should have enough for a couple of large water butts. Water from the downpipes can easily be channelled into these from which watering cans or even an irrigation system (with a bit of imagination) can be run.
I only have a very small yard at the moment, but it is one of my plans if we ever get a house with a garden.
Reply to this comment
This sort of thing just doesn't help at all:
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/business/5101434.stm
"Thames Water has missed its leakage reduction target for a third successive year, but has announced a 31% rise in pre-tax profits to £346.5m."
Reply to this comment
Always nice to know! Tell me, are there road works just about /everywhere/ you go? Thames Water are making last minute attempts to fix all the leaky pipes - I guess they probably should've started sooner, though...
Reply to this comment
That's pretty shocking, suttree. For its 3 year? ridiculous.
Reply to this comment
The BBC has a bit more coverage here too.
Reply to this comment
For those looking for water tanks, Wilkinson do them for about 19 pounds!
Reply to this comment
the best thing that we can do imo is campaign for leaking victorian water pipes to be replaced and fixed as apparently those pipes are too blame for a lot of water spillage.
Reply to this comment