Saving water
Fresh water is one of the most valuable resources on the planet.
Water is, quite literally, the source of life — without it, humans, plants and animals would not be able to survive. Yet it's a resource that we take very much for granted. Turn on the tap — and there it is.
As climate changes, rainfall patterns will alter and, in some areas, water supplies may well become depleted.
It is not possible at the moment to say exactly how or where the change will come, but it is important to be prepared and to look carefully at our use of water so that we eliminate waste as much as possible. We need to begin changing our water-use habits now.
As well as eliminating waste, we much also ensure that water pollution is tackled effectively. This will protect both our health and the environment large. A degraded environment is much more susceptible to the consequences of climate change than a healthy one.
The following steps are practical ways in which you can help protect our precious water resources. Once you have decided to implement them, you will find that they become a habit — just a part of your normal routine.
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Take a shower rather than a bath |
A five-minute shower consumes approximately fifteen gallons of water, half the amount of water — and energy — that a full bath takes. And five minutes is a long time in the shower!
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Repair all leaks and drips immediately |
Often, all that a dripping tap needs is the washer replaced — yet this simple step can stop up to two gallons of water leaking away each day.
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Use a water filter |
Until such time as the quality of tap water improves, you may like to use a filter, either fitted to the cold water supply in your kitchen or by investing in one of the jugs that are now readily available. These will remove — in varying degrees depending on the type — pollutants such as heavy metals and nitrates.
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Consider having a low-flush toilet installed |
Low-flush toilets have a choice of two flushes — a long or a short — and this greatly reduces the amount of water used. If you cannot have one of these installed, try putting a brick in the cistern to reduce the amount of water in each flush.
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Re-use household water |
Try using bath water to water the garden — or for the first soak of very dirty clothes.
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Make the most of rainy days by collecting rain water |
Rain water is usually softer than tap water. It is good for washing hair and for watering plants. Keep your container covered when it's not raining to keep bugs, leaves — and pets — out!
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Eat less meat |
It takes one hundred times as much water to produce a pound of meat as it does to grow a pound of wheat.
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Don't contribute to water pollution |
Use phosphate-free washing powder and avoid chlorine bleaches. Check toilet cleaners and other household products for ingredients which might damage water organisms. If you're not sure what it is or what it does and can't find out — don't use it!
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Ensure that your water authority is treating sewage fully and reducing leaks |
About one in five sewage treatment works in England and Wales are breaking laws by discharging effluents that fail to meet quality standards. Find out if this is happening in your area — and, it if is, write and complain. Reducing leaks in the water supply system is the most effective way to avert the impact of any forthcoming change in climate.
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If you have doubts about the quality of your tap-water, ask your local water supplier to analyse it |
In most countries, water authorities are legally obliged to state when levels of contaminants in tap-water breach legal limits. By reporting all such infringements, you can encourage prosecution of offenders and force an improvement in the quality of your tap- water.