Water-saving tips

2015-06-24 06:00

Lynn Hitchcock

Use low-flow shower heads.

• TURN the tap off between washing your face, brushing your teeth or shaving.

• Taking a five-minute shower a day, instead of a bath, will use a third of the water used bathing in a bath saving up to 400 litres a week.

• Showering can use up to 20 litres of water per minute.

If you prefer to bath, don’t fill up the bath. Taking a bath can use between 80 and 150 litres of water per bath.

• Use low-flow shower heads, dual-flush toilet mechanisms and water-efficient washing machines.

• Kettles should not be filled to the brim, but with just enough water for your needs. This will reduce your electricity bill too.

• Don’t over-fill containers like pots, as this may result in using more energy to heat the water.

• Reducing the toilet flush volume alone can save 20% of total water consumption. This can be done by putting a two-litre cool-drink bottle, filled with water and a little sand to add weight, into the cistern.

• Fix a leaking toilet otherwise it can waste up to 100 000 litres of water in one year.

• Avoid flushing the toilet unnecessarily. Dispose of tissues, insects and other waste in the trash rather than the toilet. • Every time you flush the toilet, 12 litres of water is used.

• Use “grey water” - used water from baths, washing machines and other safe sources - to flush your toilet.

• Do not overfill or excessively backwash your swimming pool.

• Use a bucket rather than a hose to wash your car. If you have to use a hose, use a sprayer that can be turned off in-between spraying the car. Using a garden hose could use as much as 30 litres of water per minute.

• Do not pour paint and chemicals down the drain.

• People living in rural areas should not use the river or river bank as a toilet

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