No If’s or Butts this summer!
14 July 2023 17:01
With the weather being so unpredictable in Northern Ireland, we have the opportunity to enjoy the summer heat but also take advantage of the rainy days with a waterbutt!
Waterbutts are a great way of harvesting rainwater, which can then be used to water plants or wash windows. We get plenty of rain in Northern Ireland, but this rainwater has to be cleaned at our treatment works before it goes to our taps. This can be very energy intensive. Using a waterbutt to catch rain water to use on our gardens for watering plants, instead of using treated clean drinking water, is just one way we can help save water and help protect the environment.
Whatever the weather we should always try to be water aware. There are so many ways we can save water in the home and garden, a waterbutt is just one of them! Here are some more simple tips to save water this summer:
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.
Ends
All media enquiries to NI Water Press Office email press.office@niwater.com
Notes to Editors:
- For more information on how to save water in your garden, you can download our ‘How Water Wise Are You?’ leaflet from www.niwater.com/information-leaflets