Every cloud has a silver lining!
11 August 2023 17:40
The wettest July on record here in Northern Ireland since 1936 comes with its benefits, believe it or not! With the recent unseasonal weather, we have the opportunity to 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, wash cars 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 rainwater 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.
Anna Killen, NI Water Outreach and Learning Officer, said: “After the wettest July on record since 1936 we can certainly make the most of our waterbutts for when the sunshine returns!
“Waterbutts collect rainwater, which can then be used to water plants or even cleaning cars, which encourages us to save water and look after the natural environment. They are a brilliant way to conserve water. By conserving our water now, we can then use the waterbutt when the good weather comes back and put it to good use!”
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. Be sure to change this jug with fresh water every 24 hours and you can use any left over water for watering plants
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
- Order your free water saving goodies by visiting www.getwaterfit.co.uk and simply entering your postcode.