Tips to help you save water, energy & money

Transcription

1 Tips to help you save water, energy & money Free Save-a-flush device see inside for details MAKE YOUR HOME WATER EFFICIENT

2 Reducing waste not use... The key to water efficiency is to reduce waste it s not about restricting your use. We all use water and we can all help by making small changes and by choosing more water efficient products for our homes and gardens. As your water supplier, Affinity Water is working hard to promote the efficient use of water in partnership with our customers. Changes in lifestyle have caused a huge surge in demand for water it has doubled in the last 50 years. The South East of England is one of the driest areas in the country and the population is growing, so it s important that we all manage our water supplies. Water meters help control cost and water use Installing a water meter can reduce your water consumption by up to 10%, saving you money. Most customers can have a water meter fitted free of charge Your bill will directly relate to the actual water you use You can save money by switching to a meter Apply online at getameter We can help you to save water, save energy and save money at water.co.uk/ savewater Think about how you use water in the home and garden, and have a look at our suggestions to reduce the water you waste. 1

3 Save water In the bathroom Toilets are the largest users of water in the home up to 10 litres per flush which is 30% of all domestic water. Install a Save-a-flush device in your single flush toilet you can request one FREE on our website or by calling us. You can fit a dual flush device to your system which reduces the amount of water you flush Opt for a refreshing shower instead of a bath and save water, energy and money. A bath costs around 45p and a shower costs 16p Ordinary showers use around 35 litres per 5 minutes compared to power showers that use 75 litres per 5 minutes. If your shower flow is more than 8 litres per minute you should fit an aerated shower head or a shower flow restrictor. Save energy too: Heating water costs you money around 30% of a household energy bill is spent on heating water 2

4 Save water In the garden Here are some simple habits to adopt around the garden that will help you to save water. Watering If you haven t already got one then a water butt is a great way to collect rainwater. You can use it to water your garden or wash the car Use household water on the garden by recycling your used vegetable, washing up or bath water on your plants and lawn. A small amount of detergent or bubble bath will not harm your garden, but don t use it on vegetables Water plants with a watering can or use a low volume watering device. You can make your own or buy seep hoses or trickle systems which give a controlled delivery of water directly to the plant If you do use a hose use a trigger gun that you can direct and switch off Water plants in the early morning or evening when it is cooler and there is less chance of the water evaporating When plants need watering, give them a good soaking to wet the roots once or twice a week in dry weather as this is more beneficial than daily light sprinklings. New plants need regular watering until they are established If you have a garden sprinkler a water meter must be fitted. Containers, pots and hanging baskets Large containers and raised beds need less frequent watering than small pots. Place small pots into larger containers or group them together to help humidity and slow down evaporation. This will help them to survive very hot days Mix water-retaining crystals in planting compost as it will help to keep the soil moist Consider buying plastic pots with water reservoirs that store water. 3

5 Free water saving products, offers and advice online at Lawns Lawns may turn brown but don t need watering they will recover when it rains Cut the grass slightly longer in dry periods to allow the dew to be trapped, and water your grass at night to avoid evaporation Cut your lawn less frequently during dry weather and leave the cuttings on the lawn it will return moisture and nutrients to the soil. Mulch Apply organic mulch around plants and on borders to conserve water by reducing surface evaporation and weeds Plants Choose drought resistant bedding plants such as Alyssum, Geraniums, French and African Marigolds and Petunias or plant perennials such as Aquilegia, Campanula or Heuchera Give plants a good soaking before you put them in the ground. If the root ball is dry, submerge it in a bucket of water before planting. Used tea leaves or bags make a good mulch roses in particular like cold tea On heavy soils use a mixture of organic matter and sharp sand or grit. This will improve water retention and reduce the chances of clay soils cracking during a dry summer. 4

6 Vegetables Group vegetables by their water needs: Leafy crops, together with cauliflower, broccoli, salad onions, peas, potatoes, runner beans and tomatoes need the most water Marrows and courgettes need watering only once the fruit starts to swell Broad beans, French beans, onions and sweetcorn will tolerate drier conditions, though yields will decrease Asparagus, beetroot and other root crops are the most drought tolerant. Ponds If filling a new pond, leave the water to stand for 24 hours before introducing plants and fish to reduce the chlorine content If possible, fill a pond with rainwater which is not chlorinated Pond water evaporates quickly in hot weather. As the water warms up, the oxygen levels drop and fish can be put under stress. Covering half to two thirds of the water surface with floating plants will provide shade for fish and cut down on evaporation. Swimming pools Make sure there are no leaks in your pool as topping up can use a great deal of water. If you have a swimming pool a water meter must be fitted. Car washing One of the most popular weekend activities is cleaning the car, but DIY car washing is hard work and is not necessarily the most environmentally friendly way of keeping your car looking good Washing the car with a bucket and sponge uses much less water than a hosepipe If you prefer to use a car wash, find one that uses recycled water. How much water do you use? How water is used in the average home: Bathing and showering 25.4% Flushing toilets 21.8% Using a hand basin 12.2% Washing clothes 11.7% Other household use 11.4% Washing dishes 8.3% Gardening 5.6% Cooking and drinking 3.6% 5

7 Save water In the kitchen Only use your washing machine with a full load it uses less water than two half loads, saving you money on energy and water If you are buying a new water appliance look at the Eco-labels for energy and water consumption Hang your washing on a line to dry if possible it saves water, electricity and money and your clothes will smell really fresh Washer-dryers can use tap water to condense moisture out of clothes when they tumble dry, so you are actually using water to get your clothes dry! Use the dishwasher only when it is full Dripping taps can waste over half a litre every 10 minutes so replace washers Fit flow restrictors or aerated tap inserts to reduce water flow by 50% Rinse vegetables in a bowl rather than under running water and put the waste water on the garden or houseplants, or into your water butt When boiling the kettle save water and electricity by only boiling enough for your immediate use Water is essential to maintain healthy bodies and minds. Tap water is by far the cheapest way of buying water and can taste just as good Store tap water in a covered container in the fridge so you don t need to run the tap each time. Save water, save energy, save money at affinitywater.co.uk/savewater 6

8 We re doing our bit too As your water company we make sure that we fix leaks on our pipes as quickly as possible. We also encourage people to report leaks to us through our leakspotters initiative either by calling us or by telling us online. We also have an award-winning Environment & Education Centre that carries out research into water efficient gardening and educates local children about the importance of water and the environment. How to get in touch Website: Go to this link to get your free Save-a-flush device to put in your cistern discounted water butts water audit free shower aerators or flow restrictors General enquiries: Apply for a meter at: Telephone: Operational enquiries (water supply, quality and emergencies): Mon-Fri 8am to 6pm Sat 8am to 1pm Post: Affinity Water Ltd, Tamblin Way, Hatfield, Herts AL10 9EZ Easier reading To receive this leaflet in large print, audio or Braille, please call