May 17th 2021 to the May 22nd 2021 marks the annual water saving week. The yearly online event aims to raise awareness on the use of water though sharing ideas and water saving solutions. It is believed that through sharing ideas and water solutions, people will be able to better understand the impact of excessive water use on the environment and wildlife.
What can we do to save water?
There are several things we can do to reduce our water waste and in turn, lower our carbon footprint. According to the Environmental Agency, many parts of the UK are under "serious water stress", pointing to the fact that there is a lot to be done to lower the levels of water waste in the UK.
Here are 8 household ways to save water:
- If you have a dishwasher, consider skipping rinsing your dishes before putting them in the dishwasher.
- Avoid watering your plants during the day to prevent the water evaporating. Try to water outdoor plants in the morning or at night so the water actually reaches the roots.
- Turn off your taps when you're brushing your teeth or about to fill up a glass of water. Sounds simple but you'd be surprised how often it happens!
- Swap baths for shorter showers!
- Save up your dirty laundry and only wash your clothes when you have a full load.
- Install a water butt in your garden to collect rainwater to water your plants.
- Only boil the amount of water that you will actually use.
- Steam your vegetables instead of boiling them, and if you do boil try to use leftover water.