Cut your water usage with a low flow shower
The need to conserve water supplies is well known by many in the UK and across the world. It was not long ago the Environment Agency published its sobering Water Resources Strategy paper, which detailed a number of stark warnings in respect to water supply in England and Wales. It was predicted in the document global warming would be responsible for river flow reductions of 50-80%.
It is understandable the Government wants all homes to have water meters installed within the next two decades. It is a sensible aim to encourage water companies to invest more heavily in upgrading their infrastructures whilst desalination plants could also prove key to averting disaster. However, it is arguably more important that every member of the public is educated on the necessity of reducing his or her water consumption.
The Shower Campaign by Waterwise, endorsed by the Energy Saving Trust and Huw Irranca-Davies, the Defra Minister for the Natural and Marine Environment, is a movement that aims to encourage people to spend a little less time under the shower each morning. The mean shower time for men and women is between 8 minutes 41 seconds and 13 minutes 26 seconds depending on their age. This adds up to around 150 litres of water usage per day per person, which is a statistic that the Government wants to slash to 130 litres by 2030. In other words, it is time for people to spend less time in the shower each day and, where possible, to install low flow rate showers to further reduce consumption. This need not mean refurbishing your bathroom – though newer shower suites (such as the Hudson Reed I-flow Remote Digital Shower) often come with water saving features, there are a range of easily installed eco-shower options available, such as the Mira eco-showerhead, which retails at around £45 or the Sensei variable showerhead.
Be Green – Not Mean!
Channel 4 have come up with twenty ways in which you can be greener, without being too mean to yourself. Many people think being ‘green’ means making sacrifices, but those plucky lot on the Channel 4 website hope to prove the doubters wrong and convert them to the ‘greener side’. All without having to give up their creature comforts! Top of the list is a real no brainer – take showers instead of baths. You use less water, you save energy and you save time! Surely, everyone should do it. Next up and a little controversial perhaps, is a home-made alternative to a dual flush toilet. Put simply, put a brick or large stone in your cistern, to save water every time you flush. (Or you can buy a water hippo for the cistern.)
In at number four, is something the washing powder companies have been advertising for quite a while – do your washing at 30ºC. Boil washes are so ‘nineties’, modern powders and liquids work well on cooler washes and you can save money and water. This great washing tip is followed nicely by number five ‘air dry your washing’. This will be a challenge as the weather turns cooler, but you can take advantage of the windy days by hanging washing out in the breeze and ultimately cut indoor drying time. Invest in a rotary drier for your garden – ultimately it will save you money on your energy bills as you do less tumble drying. (You can be even greener by not using washing powder at all – try Eco balls or soap nuts for a more eco-friendly alternative). The final tip is to collect and save rain water, which is especially good for watering plants (Most gardening stores will sell special rain collection butts – you can even get specially designed child-safe or space saving ones for smaller gardens). Let’s face it, we do get enough rainwater in this country, so we should put it to good use. For the full list, see the Channel 4 website.
Cleaner water with the Water Purator
Although many issues facing humanity can be blown out of all proportion by the media, one sensitive problem that has not been widely discussed is that of fresh water consumption. Indeed, it has been suggested the world’s population is heading towards a humanitarian crisis unless effective measures can be undertaken to provide greater sources of fresh water. However, any plan to solve this issue can only be realised if nations work together. The consequence of humanity’s growing population and inability to solve common problems will undoubtedly result in millions of deaths.
Water shortage will also cause many crops throughout the world to fail, which will add to the burgeoning food crisis. Whilst many people in the developed world will not be directly affected, the combination of worldwide food and water shortages will impact on all nations eventually. It is also
important to note that the standard of drinking water in the UK, whilst perfectly safe to drink, is not all that good. Furthermore, there are fundamental health concerns surrounding bottled water in the country, with the plastic containers used linked to a number of fatal diseases. Ultimately, people in the developed world tend to take water for granted.
Although not a solution to the world’s water shortage crisis, the Zuvo Water Purator offers a convenient and effective filtration system for home use. Comprising a five step process that combines UV light, Ozone and standard filtration techniques, the Zuvo Water Purator connects to the tap and consumes just 27W of electricity when the water runs. The Water Purator will help to remove traces of lead and chlorine.
Bottled water can be eco-friendly with the new reusable bottles
The bottled water industry is big business, but it is also a big contributor to environmental damage and waste, not to mention its giant carbon footprint! However, as we tend to overlook this unpleasant environmental fact, we may not be so quick to ignore studies which suggest that plastic bottle made from polyethylene terephthalate can leak traces of the chemical antimony into the water stored within the bottles, causing them to become polluted.
Claims from the scientific world suggest that small doses of antimony can causes illness and depression, whereas large amounts can cause violent vomiting and more severe reactions. The amount of time water is stored in bottles containing polyethylene terephthalate, the more antimony leaks into the water, making it more toxic. This is why consumers should also adhere to the “do not reuse this bottle” sign that most bottled waters have on them.
As we are all aware of how important it is to keep hydrated, consumers can get around the issue of buying bottled water, by either just drinking tap water, or purchasing a ’safe plastic’ or Aluminium eco friendly water bottle to take with them instead. (For the design conscious consumer, these come in a range of colours and slogans, including the eco-fashionista fave: ‘Green is the new black’).
Many stores (on and offline) now stock environmentally friendly water bottles, which are designed for re-use and convenience, with an immense variety of reusable water bottles available, in all shapes, sizes and colours and even a childrens’ range as well, featuring characters from films such as Star Wars! There are even designer versions, such as the Brita/Orla Kiely Wottle Reusable Water Bottle. You can even find products such as the Aquapure Traveller bottle, which go one step further and will actually filter and purify your water for you!
