Reducing water usage
Climate change will bring more periods of heavy rain and flooding. But it will also bring more periods of drought even in countries like the UK. Water is a precious and finite resource. We are used to treating it as plentiful and free. By reducing our regular consumption, not only will we reduce our water bills, but we will put less pressure on water supplies. When periods of drought do come, we will be better prepared.
Enjoy the pleasure of washing your car with a bucket. Brush your paths with a broom rather than with a high pressure washer. Train garden plants to cope without regular watering by watering infrequently and thoroughly. Grow pot plants with a mix of compost and vermiculite so they need less regular watering. Use showers rather than baths and consider showering every other day unless hygiene demands otherwise!
Hippos
Another useful idea to reduce water usage is to use ‘hippos’. Every flush of older toilets in the UK uses up around 9 litres of water. Hippos are plastic bags containing water absorbing granules. They are simply placed in the loo cistern and reduce the water usage per flush by around a third. Simple to install and councils often give them away free of charge. Get hold of a boxful and distribute to your friends and colleagues. You could also fill a 1 litre plastic bottle with water and use them instead.
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Useful links
Direct Gov UK Tips on water efficiency
Environment Agency Ideas to help saving water
RSPB Why save water?
Hippo the watersaver Explanation and sources of hippos
Guardian blogs Install a water saver