With a week of sun in store, NI Water is reminding everyone that water use goes up along with the heat. So try to remember that just a little splash goes a long way!
NI Water’s Head of Water Paul Bryce said “It is imperative that customers continue to use water wisely, especially given the forecast for the next number of days. It is tempting to fill a paddling pool, wash your car or use a bit more water than you normally would. On hot days, outdoor water makes up to half of our daily water usage with paddling pools, sprinklers and hoses adding to an overall increasing demand for water. With the sunshine looking set to stay for a few days, it’s important we think about the simple things we can all do to stay cool and save a bit of water too.
“Saving water is simple, and small actions can have a big impact. Sprinklers can consume up to 1,000 litres of drinking water per hour- more than a family uses daily. Lawns recover quickly after rain, so it's best to avoid watering them during hot, dry spells. Stay hydrated in warm weather by drinking plenty of water. Instead of running the tap to get cold water, keep a jug of tap water in the fridge to reduce waste.”
Some water saving tips:
1. Turn off the tap when brushing your teeth - A running tap can use 6 litres of water per minute. Over a month this wastes enough water to provide over 65 people with water for hand washing for a full day.
2. Use a bowl for washing vegetables - Then you can reuse this water for plants.
3. Make full use of your washing machine - Half load programmes on washing machines use more than half the water and energy of a full load, so wait until the machine is full before switching it on.
4. Fix leaking taps - A dripping tap can waste more than 60 litres of water per week.
5. Keep a jug of water in the fridge, instead of letting the tap run cold.
6. Use a watering can instead of a hose - A hose uses over 500 litres of water an hour enough to fill 12 baths.
Why not kick start these new habits and ‘Get Water Fit’, complete the online water audit at https://www.getwaterfit.co.uk or take part in water saving challenges and receive your free water saving items including a 4 minute shower timer, toothy timers and swell gel bags for the garden.
NI Water is also encouraging customers to sign up to its free text alert service which keeps them updated about anything that may impact on their water supply or any of our other services in the area. Sign up here: https://www.niwater.com/register-for-keeping-you-informed/
ENDS
For media enquiries, email press.office@niwater.com
