How to save valuable water during the heatwave
How to save valuable water during the heatwave
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1/8 IKEA
Washing up bowl £7
When washing up only a handful of things, fill up a washing-up bowl with water rather than letting the tap run.
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2/8 Mira Showers
Three spray water saving showerhead £45
Built-in Ecofficient™ technology helps this shower head to save up to 75% more water.
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3/8 IKEA
Timer £4.50
Introduce a timer into the bathroom to make sure you stick to quick showers when you can.
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4/8 Indesit
Innex washing machine £319.99
This washing machines boasts Water Balance Plus technology which adapts the amount of water used according to the cycle’s need, resulting in minimal wastage.
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5/8 Internet Gardener
Garden watering computer system £66.90
Attached to your tap, this gadget saves water by allowing complete programming of your watering system, with a rain or moisture sensor so it doesn't waste water unnecessarily.
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6/8 IKEA
Shower set with thermostatic mixer £175
This shower set is energy and water-saving with a flow restrictor device that reduces water consumption.
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7/8 Hotpoint
Freestanding Hotpoint Ultima dishwasher £429.99
The water jets on the machine are so powerful, dishes are not required to be soaked or rinsed before being loaded into the dishwasher to save on water usage in the kitchen.
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8/8 Grohe
Infra-red electronic basin tap £529
Using infra-red technology to detect movement, the taps automatically shut off when no motion is detected.
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Britain has been experiencing what seems to be the longest heatwave in recent memory, with temperatures of 34 degrees predicted to hit some areas on Wednesday - making it the hottest day of the year so far.
The lack of significant rainfall in recent months has led to hosepipe bans in the north-west of England, while water authorities across the country are issuing warnings about water shortages this summer.
WE CAN ALL DO OUR BIT
On average each person in the UK uses around 142 litres of water every day, with each individual having an estimated 4.4 showers and 1.3 baths each week.
But, if everyone in the country switched to a three-minute shower, there would be enough water saved to supply a staggering one million homes every day.
FIVE WAYS TO SAVE WATER
Clotilde Passalacqua, interior design leader at IKEA UK and Ireland, offers some tips on how to save water and to live more sustainably:
1. MULTI USE
While you are waiting for your shower to heat up, pop a bucket on the floor so that the cold water is being collected and can be used to water your plants later on.
2. PLANT GANG
Use the water from your cooking to water the plants as well.
3. KEEP IT FULL
If you have a lot of washing up to do then use the dishwasher instead of doing it by hand – if you always fill the dishwasher it uses less water than washing by hand.
4. FORGET-ME-NOT
Don’t forget to turn off the tap when you are brushing your teeth or shaving. A running tap can slosh over 6L of water down the drain every minute!
5. KEEP IT SIMPLE - AND QUICK
Pop a timer on when you shower to help you keep track of the time.
Also look out for water-saving shower heads or kitchen mixer taps with “cold-start” functions. Scroll through our gallery above for the best water saving tips and gadgets for your home.
