Over half of people in Ireland still admit to wasting water
- Greater Dublin region alone can see water use increase by up to 20 million litres per day during warm weather
- Appeal to curtail water usage regardless of the weather
Uisce Éireann has renewed its appeal to the public to ‘Think Water Conservation’ regardless of the weather. This comes as over half of Irish households (54%)* still admit to wasting water. Alarmingly, water use in the Greater Dublin Area can spike by up to 20 million litres per day during warm weather. As part of its annual campaign, Uisce Éireann called on households across the country to assess water usage habits and take practical steps to save water daily.
Simple water saving tips include:
- Checking your water consuming appliances such as washing machines and dishwaters for any plumbing issues. This includes looking out for dripping joints or leaking supply hoses
- Keep a jug of water in the fridge rather than letting the tap run cold and save six litres a day
- Making sure the tap is off while brushing teeth can save 84 litres of water a week
- Reducing shower time by 60 seconds can save up to 120 litres of water every week
- 250 litres of water a week can be saved by fixing any leaking or dripping taps in the garden
Speaking of the importance of water conservation year-round, Margaret Attridge, Uisce Éireann’s Head of Water Operations, said:
“It is important to remain conscious of our water usage habits throughout the year, regardless of the weather. Some urban areas tend to see increases in demand around the end of summer as schools return and people start back to work after holidays. Also, as we come into autumn and winter, storms and other extreme weather can impact on the capacity to treat and produce clean drinking water. For this reason, water conservation is something we should think about year-round.
“By working together to use only what we need in our homes, gardens, and businesses, we can all contribute to ensuring a sustainable water supply for everyone. We are encouraging communities all over Ireland to play their part and think water conservation throughout the year.
Attridge also reminded the public that once again the Uisce Éireann Conservation Calculator is on hand to help households examine how much water they are currently using and identify changes they could make to reduce their use.
“The average water use of one person is 133 litres per day. The Conservation Calculator provides helpful advice for those wanting to ensure they use water responsibly to improve their score rating and is free for all households to use on our website. It offers practical advice on conserving water, to ensure we have a sustainable water supply for everyone in years to come. We are encouraging everyone to play their part with us and think water conservation”.
For further information visit www.water.ie/conservation/