Water good way to make savings

BEING eco-conscious is as much about making small adjustments to our lives as anything else, and making the most of the water supply is no exception. Anglian Water spoke to The Ely Standard about the little things that make a big difference, and gave us

BEING eco-conscious is as much about making small adjustments to our lives as anything else, and making the most of the water supply is no exception.

Anglian Water spoke to The Ely Standard about the little things that make a big difference, and gave us a selection of tips to save water without going short.

- Running taps - these are the real bugbear for our water-saving friends. Believe it or not, a running tap uses some nine litres of water a minute, so switching off the tap while you are brushing your teeth is an easy way to save hundreds of litres over the course of a year. Using a bowl for washing vegetables and dishes also makes a big difference.

Waiting for the water to run cold is both inefficient and a real pain when you are desperate to slake your thirst. Why not fill a covered jug and put it in the fridge instead?

- Leaking taps - these can lose up to four litres a day, so they're better off fixed.

- Washing day - If you added up all the water used in the home over a year, your washing machine would account for about 14 per cent. Anglian Water say it's best to wait until you have a full load of clothes before doing the washing, or make use of the machine's half-wash button. This way, you can save water, electricity and detergent. The same rules apply to dishwashers, too.

- Having a soak in the bath is a great way to relax, but it's best to think of baths as just that - a treat. The average bath uses a staggering 80 litres of water, whereas a shower uses half that. Beware, though, some power showers can use more water than a bath.

- About a third of the water used in the home goes down the toilet. Leaking cisterns can use twice the amount of water needed, so they're always worth checking. Larger cisterns work well enough with a smaller flush, and water displacement devices are available to reduce the amount of water released each time you flush. You can apply for a free Freddy Frog device at www.anglianwater.co.uk

- In the garden - There are a few things the green-fingered among you can do to reduce your water use. Many gardeners already use a water butt, but there are a few other things to bear in mind. A sprinkler, for instance, will use as much water in an hour as a family of four does in 48 hours. Watering cans are more accurate, and they are best used at dusk, when less of the water evaporates. Hosepipes are also inefficient and use around 1,000 litres an hour. Why not use a bucket and sponge to clean the car instead?