Unique way to make precious water savings
06/12/2006
A Springfield family is hoping to save huge amounts of precious water by taking part in a unique and innovative project.
Julie Stock, 38, has signed up for her family to be part of the ‘water-saving toolkit’ initiative Essex & Suffolk Water is currently running in the Springfield and Beaulieu areas of Chelmsford.
Julie is one of five thousand people contacted to take part in the project which is designed to encourage people to think about the amount of water they use by offering them free water-saving products.
Julie said: “Water efficiency is something that myself and my family take seriously. We have always been conscious about wasting water around the home but this will help us even more.
“I think that this is a terrific initiative as it will really encourage people to think about how much water they are using.”
Over the coming months, Julie, together with her husband Nigel, 43, and children Christopher, 8 and Melissa, 12 will use devices they have personally chosen to save water in their home and garden.
The family created their own water-saving toolkit by selecting from a range of products, each with a different credit value. They were able to choose products worth 30 credits in total.
They selected a water butt, hose gun and a children’s water-wise pack from the list of products on offer.
Julie, a swimming teacher, said: “The products selected felt very personal to my family’s needs – the water butt and hose gun will really help us to save water in the garden.
“It was also great that my two children will be included too with the help of the children’s water-wise pack. I feel that it is important to educate children from an early age the importance of being wise about water"
Other items available in the toolkit include a shower timer, Save-a-flush, a dual flush toilet, a water- efficient showerhead and aeratored tap inserts. Services offered include the chance to have a home leak survey and have any dripping taps repaired.
Jenny Abel, project manager said: “This is a unique project which gives the homeowner the chance to choose products based on their preferences and circumstances.
“It is part of our drive to manage available water resources and reduce water wastage. The Essex area is one of the driest parts of the country, receiving only half of the national average rainfall so it is important that we all do what we can to conserve water.”
At the end of the project, which will run until March 2007, Essex & Suffolk Water will be able to calculate how much water has been saved.
Julie added: “We are looking forward to using the devices that we have chosen – I hope that this project will help myself and my family to make permanent changes in the way that we use water in the home and garden.”
To find out more about the water-saving toolkit project call 0845 602 0097.
If you do not fall into the area covered by the project you can still make water-savings by using the following tips:
1. Use a water butt to collect and store your rainwater.
2. Put a save-a-flush device in your toilet cistern and save up to 1 litre of water every time you flush. Ring 08456 048 071 for your free device.
3. Use full loads in your dishwasher and washing machine.
4. Replace washers on dripping taps - they can waste up to 26 litres of water in 24 hours - that's enough for a shower!
5. Don't leave the tap running when you brush your teeth, use a glass, this can waste 10 litres every time.
6. If you take a bath, don't fill it right to the top, try reducing the level by 1 inch.
7. Use a bucket rather than a hose to wash the car.
8. If washing up by hand, water the garden with the dirty water rather than tipping it down the drain.
9. Water plants in the evening to retain moisture in the soil.
10. Report any leaks you spot so that we can fix them quickly - ring the leak hotline on 0800 526 337.
For further information please contact Claire Bishop 01245 212 010.