Water is one of our most precious resources, yet many of us waste it without even realising. The water we use comes from our precious chalk streams, so the less water we waste, the more we can leave in the local environment. The good news? Small changes in your daily routine can make a big difference! Here are five common water-wasting habits and how you can fix them to help save water and protect our streams.
1. Running the tap while brushing your teeth
Leaving the tap running while brushing your teeth can waste up to 10 litres of water per minute! That’s enough to fill a whole bucket of water, every time you brush. How to fix it: Turn the tap off while brushing and only turn it back on when you need to rinse. It’s a quick and simple habit that saves loads of water!
2. Overwatering your garden
Your plants don’t always need as much water as you think - especially when it’s been raining. Overwatering your plants can waste water and even harm them by making the soil too soggy. How to fix it: Water your garden early in the morning or late in the evening to reduce evaporation. You can also use a water butt to collect rainwater for free!
3. Using the washing machine or dishwasher when it’s not full
Every time you run your washing machine or dishwasher with a half-full load, you’re using the same amount of water as a full load—but for fewer items! How to fix it: Wait until you have a full load before switching them on. This helps save water (about 65 litres of it, everyday), energy, and even money on your bills.
4. Taking long showers
Taking a shower can use up to 15 litres of water per minute! That means if you shower for 20 minutes or more, you’d be wasting 300 litres of water.
How to fix it: Reduce your shower time by 2 minutes and save 30 litres of water each time! You can also fit a water-saving showerhead to save bucket loads of water, and you can get one of these for FREE, and many more devices when you take Affinity Water’s My Water Footprint Quiz.
5. Ignoring leaks
A dripping tap might not seem like a big deal, but it can waste over 1,865 litres of water a year—that’s enough to fill more than 12 bathtubs! How to fix it: Check your taps, pipes, and toilets for leaks and get them fixed as soon as possible. It’ll save water and help lower your bills too.
Check your water footprint
Want to know how much water you’re using and where you can save more? Take the My Water Footprint quiz! You’ll get personalised tips and even free water-saving devices to help you cut down on waste.
By making small changes, we can all do our part to save water and protect our local streams. Start today and make every drop count!