10 Ways to Conserve Water and Protect the Planet

We are always told we must save water. But why? It’s not just about saving money, it’s about saving the planet too. From preserving ecosystems to combating climate change, being more conscious about how much water you use can make a big difference in helping meet sustainability goals. Do your bit for the environment today by checking out our 10 ways of saving water!

‍

How Does Conserving Water Benefit the Environment?
1. Shower Instead of Bathing
2. Spend Less Time Showering
3. Turn Off the Tap!
4. Reuse Water Where Possible
5. Get a Water Butt to Collect Rainwater
6. Fill the Kettle with the Exact Amount of Water You Need
7. Only Turn on the Dishwasher and Washing Machine When Full
8. Fix that Dripping Tap!
9. Use Water Saving Devices
10. Keep Cold Water in the Fridge
How to Save Water in the Office
Save the Planet By Saving Water

How Does Conserving Water Benefit the Environment?

Conserving water doesn’t just save money. It is essential for protecting the planet, ensuring sustainable ecosystems and supporting human life. But that’s not all. Here are six reasons why conserving water should be your number one priority:

‍

Preserving Ecosystems: Water is vital for the survival of plants, animals and entire ecosystems. Conserving water helps maintain wetlands, rivers and lakes which are habitats for countless species.
Combating Climate Change: Water scarcity is only increased by climate change. By conserving water, we can reduce the energy required to pump, treat and heat water, lowering greenhouse gas emissions.
Ensuring Food Security: Agriculture consumes a significant portion of the world’s freshwater. Conserving water ensures sustainable farming practices leading to secure food supplies for a growing global population.
Protecting Biodiversity: Many species depend on freshwater sources for survival. Reducing your water usage helps protect aquatic and terrestrial biodiversity, preventing the extinction of vulnerable species.
Reducing Energy Consumption: Treating and transporting water requires energy. By using water more efficiently, we can minimise the amount of energy needed to produce clean water and reduce our reliance on fossil fuels.
Mitigating Droughts: Droughts are becoming more frequent and severe due to climate change. With water saving methods, we can help communities build resilience and adapt to water shortages during dry periods.

Now that you know why water conservation is important, let’s take a look at how you can save water from your home!

How to Conserve Water and Use It Effectively

1. Shower Instead of Bathing

Spending a few minutes in the shower compared to filling up a whole bath tub can make a huge difference in your water bill. In fact, switching to showering just once a week can save about 4,000 litres of water a year. That’s a whole lot of water!

2. Spend Less Time Showering

Enforcing a set time on your showers can seem strict but it doesn’t have to be. It’s recommended that showers should take about three to five minutes. That might seem like a short amount of time but, in reality, you probably spend this much time showering without even knowing it!

3. Turn Off the Tap!

A lot of water is wasted by simply leaving the tap on when it doesn’t need to be. From leaving the tap on when brushing your teeth to washing your hands, this constant running stream of water can lead to a lot of water wastage. By turning the tap off when it’s not being used, you can save up to 9,000 litres of water a year.

4. Reuse Water Where Possible

So called “dirty water” isn’t as dirty as you might think. Whether it’s bath water, water used for boiling vegetables or water from the washing up bowl, water can be used more than once to reduce your water consumption. For example, bath water can be used to wash other things like your car and water from boiled vegetables can be used to water your plants.

5. Get a Water Butt to Collect Rainwater

What’s the best source of water? The rain, of course! So why are you not making the most of it? By using a water butt, you can collect litres and litres of rain water ready to be used to water your flourishing garden. Simply, connect a hosepipe to the water butt and have an almost endless supply of water ready to go.

6. Fill the Kettle with the Exact Amount of Water You Need

Boiling too much water in the kettle can lead to energy and water waste. Instead, you should aim to boil just enough water to make a cup of tea or whatever you might be using it for! Not only will you save water, you will also save money - £10 a year in fact!

7. Only Turn On the Dishwasher and Washing Machine When Full

Washing machines and dishwashers use the same amount of water no matter how full they are so it is up to you to make sure the appliance is full before you put it on! By filling the appliance before putting it on a cycle, you can save money, time and lower your water usage. You can thank us later!

8. Fix that Dripping Tap!

The sound of that drip drip drip shouldn’t be the only thing you are worried about. Just think about how much money is wasted from that drip each day! From dripping taps to running toilets, gallons of water could be wasted simply because you haven’t fixed it. Ensure you aren’t wasting water by maintaining appliances around the house today!

9. Use Water Saving Devices

There are plenty of gadgets on the market nowadays and that includes ones to help you save water. For example, efficient and regulated shower heads can help you reduce the amount of water you use when showering, hot water dispensers boil enough water for your exact use and rainwater diverters direct rainwater directly into your water butt.

10. Keep Cold Water in the Fridge

We all like a cold glass of water, especially in summer, but running the cold tap until it actually becomes cold can lead to a lot of water waste. Instead, why not fill up a jug of water and leave it in your fridge to keep it cool? All you have to do is make sure to top it up when it’s running low!

‍

How to Save Water in the Office

It’s not just your home where water usage can be reduced. The water consumption of your office can also be minimised by implementing these five tips:

‍

Fix Leaks Promptly: Regularly check for and repair leaking taps, pipes and toilets. Small drips can add up to gallons of wasted water over time!
Install Water-Efficient Fixtures: Replace old taps, toilets and urinals with low-flow or water efficient models. For example, dual-flush toilets offer the option for a small or large flush depending on what you require.
Encourage Responsible Water Use: Educate employees about the importance of water conservation. Signs encouraging staff to turn off taps, report leaks and avoid water running unnecessarily can help remind staff of good water usage practices.
Use Water-Saving Appliances: If your office has a dishwasher, you should ensure it is only put on when it is full. Especially when it comes to a communal dishwasher, clear signage of when the dishwasher will be put on can help encourage staff to get all their dirty dishes into the dishwasher, allowing it to be full every time!
Reuse Water Where Possible: Collect and reuse water for uses that don’t require clean water. For example, you can use leftover drinking water to water office plants!

Save the Planet By Saving Water

Water conservation has been a hot topic for quite some time so it’s clear to see why it’s important. From preserving ecosystems to combating climate change and protecting water for future generations, doing your part to keep your water usage down can help protect the planet. Join Woosh in making your home and workplace a more eco-friendly space by turning off that tap today!

FAQs

How does water conservation affect the environment?

Being more conscious about how much water you use can help preserve ecosystems, combat climate change and protect biodiversity. With over eight trillion litres of water wasted globally each year, it’s easy to see how turning off your tap can make a difference. Just think about how much energy can be saved from processing eight trillion litres less water!

How can we conserve water?

There are many ways water can be conserved starting from your home. From showering instead of bathing, turning off running taps when not needed and reusing water for watering plants, these simple steps can save thousands of litres of water in your household alone each year.

How much water is wasted every day?

In the UK, approximately three billion litres of water is wasted every day through leaky taps and broken appliances. By simply fixing that tap that has been leaking for months, you can not only save money on your water bills but also contribute to the growing efforts of water conservation overall.

‍