How much water do we actually use?
water consumption sustainability tap
Photo by Jacek Dylag
We live on a planet that is two-thirds water and one-third land. The weather delivers us rain on what feels too regular and turning on the tap delivers us as many gallons of the wet stuff we desire. This begs the question, why are we so bothered about water consumption? And the answer? There are plenty of reasons to want to save water.
The environmental impacts of excessive water consumption are manifold. First, aquatic ecosystems such as lakes and rivers provide a lot to our planet, from biodiversity to flood control. Second, the more water we use, the more energy-intensive filtration needs to occur to provide us with tomorrow’s supply. Finally, human’s wastage of water reduces the amount of freshwater available to livestock and crops, impacting our food production.
What are the numbers?
Each year in Britain, we use 840 billion litres of water each year, and 740 billion litres gets flushed down the toilet. This is enough to fill 300,000 Olympic-sized swimming pools.
We waste three billion litres of drinking water each day in the UK, which is enough to hydrate the whole continent of Africa. A lot of this water wastage happens before it gets to your home, as the pipes across Britain are full of leaks that require repair. Figures suggest that some water companies waste more water than they supply due to leakage per property.
However, that’s not to say that we don’t share some responsibility for protecting our supply of drinking water. A family of four on average uses 500 litres of metered water each day, and the average household uses 349 litres. In an article on Water UK, the major suppliers hit back, noting that the vast majority of us have no idea how much water we actually use and how much we waste. Small activities like leaving the tap running when brushing our teeth or having an excessively long shower are all ways that we allow water to run down the drain.
With everyone staying at home over the last couple of years, the amount of water we use has surged. This has led to water companies running a Water’s Worth Saving campaign, raising awareness of the need to protect this precious resource.
How to save water?
With the need to be more cautious with our water use clear, the issue becomes one of education. How can people save water and so reduce their household consumption? Here, we have collated some easy actions that everyone can take today.
Turn off the tap when brushing your teeth: We are meant to brush our teeth for two minutes and often want to rinse out the brush under the tap in the process. It doesn’t feel too much of a problem to keep that cold water tap running, right? Wrong. Imagine if every household and individual within those households did the same. The collective water wastage is massive!
Use the washing machine and dishwasher when you have a full load. Each load of washing in your washing machine requires 20 gallons of water unless it is an Energy Star certified washer, then the amount is 6 gallons. Either amount feels a lot and should only be used on a full load with maximum effect.
Install a low consumption shower head. Eco-friendly showerheads boost the water pressure rather than require a lot of water to create this pressure. On average, these showerheads can reduce consumption by up to 60%.
Fix leaking taps and pipes. That drip that has been annoying you has also been annoying the planet more. While it seems like a dot in the ocean, that drip over time will contribute significantly to water wastage.
Install a dual flush toilet. If you have a single flush toilet, every push of the button will lead to a full blast of water. However, with a dual flush, you can opt for a lighter flow of water and so save a massive amount of water in the process.
Get a water butt. We use a lot of water to keep our gardens growing, which is a shame when so much flows through our drainpipes. Catch the rainwater, and you will save a significant amount of potential drinking water.
Why bother?
None of us can live without water. And we all rely on the natural waterways for wildlife, flood prevention, and recreation. Each of us taking responsibility for understanding the amount of water we use – and waste – can contribute to a healthier planet and a much lower water utility bill at the same time.
Sea Going Green is a sustainable tourism consultancy that provides strategies to clients in the marine tourism industry to lower their environmental impact while increasing profits and savings.