Wasting water

Top 10 Ways You’re Wasting Water

Although most of the Earth’s surface is covered by water, only about 1% of it is freshwater that is suitable for drinking and domestic consumption. Most of the remaining water is either saltwater or it is frozen into the polar ice caps and glaciers. That means that conserving water is essential. Households in Ireland use on average 368 litres of water a day and that rate is increasing year on year. Even minor changes like replacing dripping taps, taking shorter showers, or shutting off the supply while brushing your teeth can make a massive  difference in your water usage,

Do you have pipe leaks or plumbing problems that need attending to.  Contact The Cork Plumber today on 0863620457. We serve all of Cork City, Ballincollig, Bandon Macroom and surrounding areas

HOW YOU MAY BE WASTING WATER

Between old fixtures, inefficient appliances, faulty plumbing, and old habits, it is easy to waste a considerable amount of water each day in a typical household. A toilet that has a faulty filling  valve, for example, can waste gallons of water per hour as it constantly runs and refills the tank. Here are 10 ways that you may be wasting water without being aware of it:

1) Using your toilet as a bin. Representing almost a third of a household’s total indoor consumption, toilets are the biggest source of water use in your home.  Every time you flush a facial tissue or feminine product, you waste five to seven gallons of water.  Not to mention flushing something other than human waste and toilet paper is bad for your pipes and drains!

2) Taking long showers. Think of it this way: Most modern showers use between 10 and 12 litres per minute, That can make a quick three-minute shower a 36-litre experience.

Women spend more time in the shower, potentially draining more than 100 litres from the tank for a 10-minute shower.

But what you really need to monitor is the amount of time spent in there and remember that power showers don’t use more water but they do use more energy.

Bathing now an indulgence

Is this the end of the bath? If you were to have a bath three or four times a week you could use as much as 215 litres to fill it each time .it may help you unwind but on top of a  daily shower admits it is “a bit of overkill”.

A new, shallower bath at 130cm by 70cm, compared to the classic 170cm by 70cm standard, using 85 litres against 125 litres, is one way to go.

3) Conventional showerheads. You should consider switching to a low-flow showerhead, which uses about 2 litres of water per minute. They have improved massively over the years

4) Leaky pipes. Ireland is losing nearly 43% of its drinking water through leaks. Moist of this is through the national supply network and Irish Water is trying to keep up with the issue. Householders also have a responsibility to look look at their taps, toilets and showers  often. Repair or replace leaking water lines as soon as possible,

5) Laundry loads that are only half full. Ensure that each load of laundry you do is pretty full.  This will be more cost-effective in the long run.

6) Running a dishwasher that’s not completely full. Make sure your dishwasher is completely full before you run it. In fact, you should consider running it on a “light” cycle if a “normal cycle” isn’t necessary.

7) Washing dishes with running water. Instead, fill up your sink with soap and water and let the dishes soak. After a few minutes, go ahead and wash them off!

8) Conventional toilets. If you have an older toilet, it could be using up to 2 gallons more water than a newer low-flush or high-efficiency toilet.

9) Overwatering your lawn. During the summertime, it’s best to water your lawn in the morning (5-10am) because the air is cooler and water evaporates more slowly. Additionally, it’s really only necessary to water twice a week … MAX!

10) Running the water while brushing your teeth. If you have the habit of running the water when you’re brushing your teeth, simply remind yourself to turn it off.  If you think about it, there is no reason the water needs to be running.

Start saving water today—contact our plumbing professionals at The Cork Plumber  to help with plumbing repairs, fixture replacements, water conservation, and more! We serve homes throughout the Cork City, Ballincollig, Macroom, Bandon and all surrounding areas. Our company offers respectful service, quality workmanship, and experienced, professional plumbers who are here to help with all your plumbing problems, seven days a week.

Call 0863620457 or  contact us by email