Reduce and Recycle this Autumn with NI Water

08 September 2017 11:05

Reduce and Recycle – that was the message from World Water Week 2017, encouraging consumers to reduce the amount of water they use and recycle whatever water they can.

 

In a world where only 1% of all the water is actually usable by humans, reducing and recycling the water we use could become critical.  As the global population continues to increase, the pressure on our water will grow and grow, so reducing and recycling our water is something we should all familiarise ourselves with.

 

World Water Week is a feature of the late summer calendar, intended to encourage people to use water wisely and realise its’ value in our everyday lives. None of us can survive more than a few days without water, and all other aspects of our lives would crumble if it wasn’t for water and its’ life-giving power.

 

Anna Killen, NI Water’s Environmental Education Officer, says: ‘‘World Water Week helps to encourage us all to reflect on how crucial water is for us – over 80% of our blood is water, our heart is 70% water and 85% of our brains, so it’s vital that we all stay topped up every day.  However, the amount of water we use around our homes and in our businesses is definitely within our control.  Each of us in Northern Ireland uses on average 155 litres of water per day in our kitchens, bathrooms and gardens – indeed, our use of water has been growing by an average of 1% almost every year for 80 years! 

 

‘‘If you want to reduce the amount of water you use and recycle surplus water, there are plenty of easy ways to do so:

 

• Take a shower instead of a bath and take shorter showers.
• Choose and use a dual flush toilet, using the lower flush whenever possible – only flush the toilet when needed.
• In older toilet cisterns (9 litres plus), use a Save-a-Flush device to help save water; these are available from NI Water.
• Turn off the tap whilst brushing your teeth or shaving.
• Fix dripping taps – a dripping tap can waste 5,500 litres of water a year.
• Use a washing up bowl to rinse and peel vegetables or wash dishes – you can then reuse the water in your garden.
• Keep a jug of tap water in the fridge for when you need a cold drink.
• Fully load your washing machine or dishwasher before use
• Wash your car with a bucket and sponge; not a hose, which can use up to 135 litres in 15 minutes.

 

‘‘By taking some simple, everyday steps, we can all make a real difference in reducing the amount of water we use.  As for recycling, it is very easy to use water previously used to wash dishes, peel vegetables or clean windows to water plants in the garden, as well as by using water-retaining crystals in soil to help plants retain moisture. 

 

‘‘NI Water is committed to water conservation and to helping our customers reduce and recycle the water they use – we continue to take all possible steps to reduce leakage in our own network and provide as much advice as we can on how to use water wisely.  It also costs substantial sums of money to clean and treat water effectively, so a reduction in the amount of water used in Northern Ireland can help us save money and thus deliver what matters in additional investment in water and wastewater services.  This also helps us reduce carbon dioxide emissions and reduce our carbon footprint.

 

‘‘World Water Week allows us all to take stock of how much water we use on a day to day basis, and how precious it is too.  There can be no doubt that if we all take steps now to limit the amount of water we use, and recycle as much of it as we can, it will make things easier for everyone in the future.’’

 

For more information on how to use water effectively, please visit www.niwater.com

 

ENDS

 

All media queries to the NI Water press office on 028 9035 4757 or via email to press.office@niwater.com