Water is vital to our lives, but there is now a strain on our water supply. The way we are using water is not sustainable and may even damage the environment.
The Council is doing all it can to solve the problem, but you can do your part too. Here are some tips on how to reduce your water usage.
Stop running taps
When you turn on the tap, up to five litres of water flows through every minute. In many cases, much of this running water isn't doing anything and is wasted. Here's what you can do:
- Wash vegetables and fruit in a bowl, not under the tap – then use the leftover water to water house plants.
- Keep a bottle of water in the fridge so you don't have to run the tap until the water is cold.
- Do NOT leave the tap running when brushing your teeth, shaving or soaping your hands.
The little things that count
Small changes to the way we do things around the house can help save water. Here are some examples:
- Fill your kettle with only the amount of water you need – this will help save energy too.
- Put cotton wool and tissues in the bin rather than flush them down the toilet.
- Wait until you have a full load before you start your washing machine or dishwasher.
Other useful things you can and should do
Old or damaged plumbing can cause water wastage. Here are some things you can do about the equipment and appliances in your house:
- Use a 'save-a-flush' or 'hippo' if your toilet cistern is an old one.
- Replace worn tap washers – dripping taps can waste up to four litres of water a day.
- Make sure your water pipes and external taps are lagged in time for the cold winter months – burst pipes can cause serious damage and waste water.
- Buy water-efficient household appliances.
What the Council is doing
We are reviewing all our water needs to find out how we can reduce water usage. We are also exploring the possibilities of collecting rain water or other water locally for reuse.
In the Council's corporate buildings, we are looking at how we can challenge existing practices or use alternative technologies to help us save water.
Further information
In a bid to save water in London, Thames Water regularly puts in place a hosepipe ban. Find out more about these bans on the Thames Water website using the link on the right.
To learn more about water resources and how you can conserve water, visit:
If you're interested in water or conservation, check out these other areas of our website: