Shower Responsibly with the Four Minute Challenge

31 October 2024 10:55

As we look ahead to the winter months when we will be using more energy in our homes and the cost of energy bills rise, NI Water is taking the opportunity to remind customers that showering responsibly will help save water and save on energy bills.

NI Water’s reminder comes after the recent Continuous Household Survey (CHS) in relation to household water usage showed on average 55% of households use their shower between six and 10 times a week. Furthermore, nearly half of respondents (48%) said their average shower times were between two and five minutes while 36% said between five and 10 minutes.

NI Water advise that taking shorter showers is good for the environment and your wallet. They point out that while a bath uses 80 litres and a power shower uses 90 litres of water, a standard shower uses 35 litres of water.

NI Water Education Officer Anna Killen said it is important everybody showers responsibly to be more water efficient and help the environment. Anna said: “In a world where we are all experiencing the effects of climate change in different ways, it’s important we adopt lifelong habits and behaviours that will help protect the environment and one of the planet’s most precious resources – water.

“The Continuous Household Survey findings are important as they help us all to think about how much water we all use every day and this encourages us all to think of different ways we can be more water wise at home by adopting water saving measures, including in our bathrooms.

“By taking shorter showers, it’ll help save on your energy bills because the less water you heat, the less you’ll pay for energy. In fact, according to the Energy Savings Trust swapping one bath a week with a four minute shower could save you £15 in NI a year on your energy bills. The Energy Savings Trust also advise keeping your shower time to just four minutes could save a typical household £70 in NI a year on their energy bills.

“We always promote simple ways to reduce your time in the shower such as NI Water’s free shower timers that will challenge you to only take four minutes in the shower. You can order a NI Water shower timer on www.getwaterfit.co.uk. Or alternatively we also suggest playing your favourite song while you shower and trying to finish before the song ends.”

Anna’s top showering tips:

• Check how much water your shower uses: A typical bath uses 80 litres of water. However, five minutes in a standard shower uses 35 litres of water. Watch out for power showers though as they use 90 litres, almost as much as a bath.
• Get Water Fit: NI Water’s online water audit https://www.getwaterfit.co.uk will help you find out more about how and where you use water and it also suggests some easy ways to help you make savings

• Fit push buttons to showers: these help you save water and money. You often see these in school changing rooms and leisure centres. You use the back of your hand or your elbow to press the button when you want to rinse off and they reduce the risk of showers being left on by accident
• Fit aerating shower heads: by blending water with air and creating larger droplets of water, it feels like there’s more water than there really is whilst using up to 50% less water
• Swap baths for showers: this helps save many litres of water and the Energy Savings Trust also say swapping one bath a week with a 4 minute shower could save you £15 in NI a year on your energy bills
• Take the four minute shower challenge by using a shower timer on https://www.getwaterfit.co.uk. The Energy Savings Trust also advise keeping your shower time to just four minutes could save a typical NI household £70 a year on their energy bills
• Alternatively, play your favourite song and challenge yourself to finish your shower before your song has stopped

Ends

Notes to editors:

• The Household Water Usage factsheet 2023/24 was published on Wednesday 2nd October 2024. It is a publication produced by the Analysis, Statistics and Research Branch (ASRB) of the Department for Infrastructure (DfI) and presents findings from the 2023/24 Continuous Household Survey (CHS). The publication is available on the new Water Usage Research webpage 
• The information presented in this publication derives from the 2023/24 the Continuous Household Survey (CHS) in relation to Household Water Usage. The CHS is considered to be a representative sample of the population at household level.
• A total of 4,927 adults aged 16 and over were surveyed in 2023-24.
• The report provides annual statistics on the use of water by individuals and households including use of showers, dishwashers, washing machines and hosepipes.

Media enquiries to the NI Water Press Office via email to press.office@niwater.com