Wise about water

17/03/2006

Essex & Suffolk Water is writing to some customers in Heybridge to ask them to take part in a water efficiency initiative to find out how and why they use this precious resource.

Customers who choose to take part in the project will have the chance to learn how to make their home more water efficient and find out how they can reduce their water bill.

Megan Rogers, demand planning analyst for Essex & Suffolk Water said: “Demand for water is rising across the county due to growth of housing and higher use of domestic appliances. It is important that we focus on water efficiency all year round, not just in the hot summer months. We also need to learn how new technology can help improve water efficiency.

“We hope that this project will enable us to raise awareness among some of our customers about how easy it is to make their homes water efficient and use water wisely.”

The project will be completed in a number of stages including interviews with customers to discover how and why they use water and the distribution of water-wise devices to households.

East Anglia is one of the direst regions in the country and Essex & Suffolk Water is constantly working to ensure that there are plentiful supplies for the future. As part of this, it is essential that customers use water wisely. The current levels of the two reservoirs that supply more than one million customers in Essex are average for this time of year – Abberton is 78% full and Hanningfield is 88% full.

WATER-WISE TIPS FOR THE HOME AND GARDEN

In the home
• Have a shower rather than a bath – you will save up to 50 litres of water.
• 000A save-a-flush installed in a toilet cistern will save one litre of water every time you flush the toilet.
• A dripping tap can waste up to 26 litres of water in 24 hours – that is enough water for a shower!
• Turn the tap off while you brush your teeth – you will save up to 14 litres of water.
• Clean vegetables in a bowl rather than under a running tap – you will save around 23 litres of water a day.
• Ensure washing machines and dishwashers are full before use – dishwashers use around 35 litres of water per cycle      and washing machines use around 80 litres of water per cycle.

In the garden
• Water plants in the evening to retain moisture in the soil and aim water at the base of the plant – there is   no need to   water leaves.
• 000Create a depression in the ground around plants to prevent water running away.  It is best to give plants a good soaking rather than watering little and often.
• 000Invest in a waterbutt and capture rainwater for use in a dry period.  Rainwater is very good for plants.
• 000A hosegun fitted to your hosepipe allows you to turn water on and off easily as you move around the garden and to aim the water at the plant you want to water.

For further advice on water efficiency or to request a free save-a-flush customers should ring 01245 212 360.

For further information please contact Claire Bishop on 01245 212 010.