Read this guide and start saving. It s easy to save water!

Transcription

1 Read this guide and start saving It s easy to save water!

2 2 Severn Trent Water Your water saving guide At Severn Trent Water we focus on delivering the best quality drinking water and returning waste water safely to the environment, today, tomorrow and for the long term. We re working hard to save water by reducing leakage, providing tips to businesses and households on how they can save water, and offering a great range of free water saving products. Find out more about the work we are doing on page 4 of this guide.

3 Severn Trent Water Your water saving guide 3 Why we need your help to save water Despite Britain being seen as a rainy country, some areas have less water available per person than Spain or Australia. Climate change, a growing population and our modern lifestyles will mean we have even less water available in the future, so we need to do something now. It s increasingly important that we preserve our natural environment for future generations. Scientists are predicting that climate change could lead to significant changes in our weather patterns, including the prospect of longer, hotter and drier summers. This guide is full of easy water-saving tips which show that you do not need to make big changes to save a lot of water. A few simple changes can make a big difference!

4 4 Severn Trent Water Your water saving guide What we are doing to save water Finding, fixing and preventing leaks One of the ways we are working to save water is through our investment to prevent leaks from our pipes. We are doing this by replacing old and damaged pipes, using better ways to find leaks and repairing them faster. Between 2010 and 2015 we are spending more than 168 million on replacing pipes, and 38 million on other ways to control leaks. Fitting water meters for free Our meter fitting programme is an important part of our plan to help manage the demand for water. And as customers only pay for the water they use it is also a fairer way for them to pay. For more information see page 15. If you see a leak please let us know Call or go to

5 Severn Trent Water Your water saving guide 5 Providing education and advice We have a team who visit primary and secondary schools, colleges, universities and adult community groups. They offer interactive presentations, fun group activities and workshops all focused on saving water and it s all free. Find out more at Offering free water-saving products All of our customers are able to order a selection of free water-saving products including: ShowerSave flow regulator Shower timer Tap inserts Save-a-flush PLEASE NOTE: products subject to availability For more information see page 16.

6 6 Severn Trent Water Your water saving guide Saving water in the bathroom Take a short shower instead of a bath This saves water and energy. One bath can use up to 100 litres of water, compared to an efficient shower using under 50 litres. But remember power showers can use more water than baths. Spend less time in the shower Why not challenge yourself and your family to shower one minute quicker? In a year you could save up to 10,000 litres of water: that s enough water to supply a family of four for over two weeks!

7 Severn Trent Water Your water saving guide 7 Find out how to order your free water-saving products on page 16. Turn off the taps Simply turning off the tap while brushing your teeth, washing your hands or shaving can save over 5 litres of water every minute. You could be saving more than 4,000 litres of water a year: that s enough water to supply a family of four for a week! Fit a toilet save-a-flush If you have an older single flush toilet, you could save up to 12 litres of water every day by putting one of these bags in your cistern. And remember, only toilet paper and human waste should be flushed down the loo!

8 8 Severn Trent Water Your water saving guide Saving water in the kitchen Use a bowl for washing dishes and vegetables A kitchen tap can use up to 20 litres of water every minute. You can reduce water waste by using a bowl to wash and prepare your vegetables as well as doing the washing up. You can use the waste water to rinse out your cans and glass jars ready for recycling.

9 Severn Trent Water Your water saving guide 9 Did you know? Pouring fats, oils and grease down your sink can cause blockages in drains and sewers that can lead to flooding into homes and gardens. Repair dripping taps A dripping tap can waste up to 5,000 litres of water every year. Fixing a dripping tap is usually as simple as replacing a tap washer so do it today! Fill your dishwasher Most modern efficient dishwashers can use less water than washing up by hand. Make sure it s full before you start it.

10 10 Severn Trent Water Your water saving guide Saving water in the garden

11 Severn Trent Water Your water saving guide 11 Thinking about getting a water butt? Have a look at our special offers online at Collect rain water Water butts are great for collecting rain water. A large water butt should be able to provide you with all of the water your garden needs if you use it carefully. You could also use the water to wash your car. Use watering cans Water your garden with a watering can rather than use a hosepipe or sprinkler giving priority to new plants and those in pots. To avoid water evaporation, water your plants early in the morning or early evening. Don t worry about your lawn Even when lawns look dry and brown, they ll soon spring back to life after a rain shower, so there s no need to water them. If the weather is dry and warm try not to cut your grass too short, this will help it to retain moisture and keep it greener for longer. And if you are planting a new lawn consider one of the more drought tolerant varieties such as Xeris.

12 12 Severn Trent Water Your water saving guide Are you water wise? Try our quick quiz to find out how water wise you are! Question 1 When bathing do you: a. Always take a shower b. Always take a bath c. Sometimes a shower and sometimes a bath Question 2 If you take a shower do you: a. Take a shower of 5 minutes or less b. Take a long shower of more than 5 minutes c. Unsure of how long you spend in the shower Question 3 Does your toilet have: a. A dual flush/or a single button flush b. A traditional flush lever/chain c. A traditional flush lever/chain with a save-a-flush bag installed Question 4 When you brush your teeth do you: a. Always turn off the tap b. Always leave the tap running c. Sometimes turn it off

13 Severn Trent Water Your water saving guide 13 Question 5 When watering your garden do you: a. Use water from a water butt b. Use a hose pipe or a sprinkler c. Use a watering can filled from the tap Results If you answered: Mostly a s You are water wise! You re already saving water and helping the environment. Mostly b s Follow our top water saving tips to help you get water wise. Mostly c s You are on your way to being water wise follow our top water saving tips to help you save even more.

14 14 Severn Trent Water Your water saving guide Are you using more water than you need? On average, each person in the Severn Trent Water region uses about 130 litres of water a day. Everyone can use less. If you are using more than this, you can start to save water by following our top tips: Have a short shower instead of a bath Reduce the time you spend in the shower Only use the dishwasher with a full load Brush your teeth with the tap turned off Use a watering can to water the garden instead of a hosepipe Fix dripping taps Use a bowl for washing food/ vegetables, then use the waste water to rinse out your cans and glass jars ready for recycling. Use a plug in your sink for face washing and shaving Follow our top tips for saving water Order your free watersaving products today! You ll be able to save even more water by using our free water-saving products as shown on page 16.

15 Severn Trent Water Your water saving guide 15 Only pay for the water you use Have a water meter fitted it s free! If your water usage is low opting for a free water meter should mean smaller bills. Many people find once they have a meter fitted they use less water. If you are using less water you are also heating less water and this can help you save money on your energy bills. So having a meter makes good financial sense. Get in touch with us if you d like to have a free meter fitted. You can do this online at Or call us on

16 16 Severn Trent Water Your water saving guide Order your free water-saving products ShowerSave This device helps save water, energy and money on your utility bills. It s easy to install and saves water but still allows you to have an enjoyable shower. PLEASE NOTE: not suitable for electric or multi jet showers Shower timer Take the shower challenge with this four minute shower timer. It s a simple sand timer that you can stick to the wall or screen of your shower with its suction pad. By taking shorter showers you will save water, energy and money on your utility bills, as well as saving your time!

17 Severn Trent Water Your water saving guide 17 How to order your products Through our website savewater Call us on Tap inserts Tap inserts are designed to control the water flow through your taps. They can save up to 12 litres of water a minute. This device can help save water, energy and money on your utility bills. Tap inserts are suitable for separating hot and cold taps and mixer taps fitting most taps with threaded outlets. Save-a-flush bag This bag is simply placed in the toilet cistern and will save around 1.2 litres of water with every flush of the toilet. It only takes one minute to install. PLEASE NOTE: not suitable for low or dual flush toilets

18 18 Severn Trent Water Your water saving guide We also need your help stop sewer blockages Blockages are the main cause of flooding from our sewers Having sewage and wastewater flooding into your home and garden is a devastating experience. It causes serious damage and is costly to clean up. Keeping our sewers free from blockages is a big job. We are investing more than 10 million every year to clear and improve the sewerage network but we need you to do your bit too. Many blockages can be avoided by being careful about what you pour down your sink and try to flush away in your toilet. Fats and oils may be liquid when you pour them down the sink but they quickly cool and become hard, sticking to the inside of pipes and sewers. This builds up into a thick layer over time. When fat mixes with other items like wipes and sanitary items that have been put down the toilet it can form a huge solid blockage. Find out more and order a free disposable fat trap at Or call us on

19 Severn Trent Water Your water saving guide 19 Can t pay your bill? Talk to us on It s a worry when you can t pay your bills. But we are able to help and ease the stress by offering you a number of ways to get back on track. Call us today on and we can give you more time to pay or explain some other options. Payment plans These help you pay a little off each week, fortnight, or month whether that s through Direct Debit or using a water card at local Pay Point outlets. Water Direct If you re on certain benefits you can arrange to have small deductions paid directly from your benefit. Free water meter With a meter you just pay for the amount of water you use. This is ideal for single occupancy homes or if your water use is low. WaterSure This is a special tariff with a capped charge. It can help customers who have a water meter but experience difficulties as a result of high water usage due to a medical condition or have a low income. Severn Trent Trust Fund This scheme assists those in extreme financial difficulty.

20 Severn Trent Water Ltd PO Box 5309, Coventry, CV3 9FH. ST.WM A