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running water from tap

Do You Know Your H2O? We drink it and flush it down the toilet everyday, but how much do you know about water? Did you know that about 75% of the earth's surface is covered in water, but 97% is salty or otherwise undrinkable. Of the remaining 3%, some 2% is stored in glaciers and ice caps - leaving only 1% for humanity's needs?

 

With recent droughts in London it's more important than ever to make sure we don't waste water. If we don't save water, existing resources of water such as reservoirs and rivers could run dry.

 

TARGET: Reduce water use by 15% by 2015

 

How many of these suggestions do you carry out to save water?

Report any dripping taps or leaks. A dripping tap can waste up to 140 litres of water a week. Make sure you get it fixed and you'll be helping the environment. Report University dripping taps to KUSCO.


Turn the tap off when brushing your teeth. A tap left running while you brush your teeth can use 10 litres of water a time. Use a mug or turning the tap off to save water.


Take showers instead of baths. A 5 minutes shower, will use about 30-60 litres of water where a bath could use 80. Even better why not get close and personal with someone you love and share a shower!


Fit a water saving device in the cistern of your toilet. Available from Thames Water, this will save up to 3 litres of water each time you flush.


Don't wash your dishes under running water. Use a sink plug or bowl so you don't waste water.


Clean vegetables using water in a bowl, rather than peeling under a running tap. Soaking vegetables makes them easier to peel and a running tap wastes 10 litres a minute. You can use the water afterwards in your garden if you have one. This saves up to 10 litres each time.


Only use washing machines and dishwashers when full. Using the washing machine with a full load uses water wisely, whereas a half full load will mean that you end up using twice as much water as you really needed to do, that's up to 60 litres of water wasted.

 

Kingston University is promoting water efficiency to save water and costs by fitting water saving taps and cisterns and waterless urinals.

 

Do you have another water saving suggestion? Please let us know. We reward the best suggestions and initiatives with prizes.

Well I Never!

The new John Galsworthy has been designed to be water efficient and includes a rain water harvesting system for toilet flushing.

Eco Angel

Eco Angel

"When using the kettle, I only boil as much water as I need. That way I save water and energy by just using what I need and it's quicker too!"

What Can You Do?

Use water wisely and turn taps off fully after washing.