How To Save Water

How do I save water?

To save water, I keep a bucket near my kitchen sink for water I've used to wash up with or wash food with. I use the leftover water for my garden where I grow our food. Plants don't mind "grey water," as it's called, but don't put bleach on them. If you want to save water, don't flush the loo unless you need to; you can save up to 9 litres this way. Again, you can always use grey water from a jug kept near the loo. You can put a 'water hippo' into your toilet cistern. That comes free from your water authority. A brick is just as good to save water over filling it. I use a tiered boiler - I have 3 tiers on my boiler - and I steam an entire meal of meat or fish and vegetables on one burner alone, saving water and fuel. Leaving the tap running as you brush your teeth or shave can waste 5 litres of water a minute. You can save water by installing new eco-taps which discourage you from turning water full-on. Always keep the washers on your tap; that's the bit that stops it dripping and keeps the taps in good repair. Otherwise, you can lose 4 litres of water a day from a dripping tap. Install a modern A-rated dishwasher and operate it only when it's full. That will use around 15 litres of water, but handwashing your washing-up can use over 6 litres. Only buy A-rated appliances to save water. In the garden, consider installing an underground storage tank from a big supplier, like B&Q or Wick's. You do need expert advice here, and check with your local authority that you don't need planning permission. These rainwater tanks can be fantastic if you run out of water or you have a hosepipe ban in the summer, but they do cost over £1000 in some cases. Don't rush to buy a water bucket for your garden. You may be able to get one free from your water authority, or just use cheap plastic dustbins. If your water's unmetered, you won't actually save money, if that's what you're purely interested in. The water company actually saves the money, not you. Plant your fruits and vegetables a month earlier to take advantage of the moisture in the soil before our hottest summers actually suck all that water away. Cover everywhere with moisture-retentive mulches. That can be bark or even black bin bags with holes cut in them for the plants to keep water in the soil. Finally, choose plants that don't need lots of water. I'm about to plant an entire bed of decorative thistles. Decorative cacti, Mediterranean plants and basil are very good at staying nice-looking even when there's not a lot of water about. Save water by watering all your plants in the morning or the evening when the water will actually go into the soil a bit more. If you water during the day, a lot of it evaporates before it actually reaches the roots.