How to use Water Wisely in your Community
The information on this web page has been adapted from a factsheet provided by Northumbrian Water Limited.
It’s simple really. We have all got used to having unlimited water, as much as we like, delivered to and taken from our homes, schools, places of work, allotments and community halls. A dripping tap may annoy us but isn’t high on our list of DIY priorities. Many of us might have a watering can but we prefer to save time and energy by getting out the sprinkler or the garden hose. Some of us would rather wash the odd mug under a running tap rather than fill the bowl. All we have to do is think about how we are using this valuable, life-giving substance and try to use it more sensibly. Use enough for our needs and not waste what we don’t really need. The principles apply wherever you are:
1. Leaks in the Street
Here at Northumbrian Water we have a vigorous leak detection policy and teams of employees and contractors who actively look for leaks in our region. We are committed to reducing leakage in the water distribution system. Our leak detection work saves 10 million litres of water per day. But we need your help.
Water mains can fracture for a number of reasons. Apart from normal wear and tear - frost, water logging or even dry spells can cause ground movements that can pull joints apart or even crack pipes.
Have you seen a leak of water in your street or area? Don’t just ignore it - report it to Northumbrian Water. We rely on the public to help us to spot problems because our network of pipes is so vast that we couldn’t possibly monitor all of them all of the time. (There are 16,490 km of pipes - enough to stretch to Calcutta and back with enough kilometres left over to have a day return to Aberdeen!). It’s a free phone number so please dial 0800 393084.
We will always fix the leak as soon as we possibly can. If the leak isn’t an emergency, we plan the work to try to avoid unnecessary disruption from constantly digging up the road and to take account of customers with special needs. We may also need to consult other organisations with underground networks, e.g. gas, electric and telephone companies, arrange traffic control measures and of course warn our customers when the water will be unavailable.
2. Do you have a leaky water supply pipe?
Did you know that the water supply pipe, which supplies your home, belongs to the property owner, and is their responsibility? Northumbrian Water is responsible for the pipework up to and including the external stopcock (excluding private mains and fire mains). The owner or owners of the property are then responsible for the pipework from the stopcock and the pipes inside the building.
However, if the leak is on external pipework less than 50 metres long which feeds any domestic supply or a metered supply with pipework, which has less than 50mm inside diameter (2"), Northumbrian Water may repair the leak free of charge with the owner’s permission.
If you suspect that you may have an external leak on your property you can ring our leak detection hotline on 0800 393084. A leak detection team will arrange to visit you to check and give you further details. (If you suspect an internal leak you will need to contact your own plumber).
3. Do you have an internal plumbing problem?
Look at all the places that use water where you meet or live. Does the building/allotment have a water meter? Take the meter reading before you go to bed or when you know the building is going to be empty, e.g. a weekend, then take the meter reading when you get up or go back into the building - has the reading changed? Areas to investigate could be:- Are the urinals flushing all the time - could this be your problem? Sensors could be fitted so that they only flush when they are needed.
- Are there any dripping taps? Fit new washers. Never leave a tap dripping. If it drips once per second that can waste 13 litres per day or around 4750 litres every year.
- Are there noises of constant cistern filling in the toilets? There may be a fault on your loo.
- Is there a constantly running or dripping overflow pipe? There could be a problem. Contact your plumber.
4. What else can we do at home?
Can you fit a hippo in your loo?
One third of all water used in the home is for flushing the toilet - nine litres or more for every flush. New toilets on the market use between six and seven and a half litres. If your family is planning to replace your toilet, try to fit a water efficient one. If not, have you thought about fitting a hippo into your toilet? A hippo is a bag that fits into the cistern and means that less water is used in the flush. Call Northumbrian Water Customer Centre on 0345 171100 to obtain a free water conservation pack and hippo bag.Water Waster?
Do you know how water wise you and your family are? Why not telephone 0345 171100 and request a copy of our Water Wise Home Questionnaire and find out whether you are a water wise or a water waster.Why not Ignore the Washing Up!
Washing a mug under a running tap uses about a litre of water; six mugs use about the same as a whole bowl of washing up. So, ignore the washing up - has there ever been a better excuse! But only until you’ve got enough for a full bowl!Don’t be an Old Soak!
The average bath uses 80 litres of water, but an ordinary shower (not a power shower) only takes about 35 litres. You could save up to 45,000 litres a year and cut your family’s heating bills, if you take showers instead of baths.Proud to be Plugs!
Save water by putting a plug in the sink, or use a bowl for jobs like washing and preparing vegetables or rinsing dishes and you could save 23 litres a day.
A running tap also wastes water if you leave it running when you brush your teeth or wash your hands. You can save 10 -14 litres every time if you use a mug of water when you brush your teeth and put a plug in the basin when washing. If everyone in the UK turned off the tap whilst brushing their teeth, they would collectively save as much water in a week as it would take to fill the Millennium Dome!
Fill kettles and pans with only as much water, as you need. This saves energy as well as water.
Gasping for a cup of tea? You’ll get one more quickly if you boil only as much water as you need - it will save you water and electricity too.
Don’t let the water run to waste while you are waiting for the tap to run hot. Fill a bowl or basin and then use that water to either cool your hot water down or water indoor plants.
Let’s get Windy!
Treat the washing to a line dry whenever possible. Washer dryers use water to condense the moisture out of clothes when tumble drying.Canny in the Kitchen!
Dishwashers use around 35 litres for each and every load. Make sure you only use them fully loaded, and you could save up to 18 litres every wash. It’s also worth asking your family to compare the water and energy use before you buy new one.
A typical washing machine cycle uses around 80 litres - twice the amount used for washing by hand. Wait until you have a full load or use the economy half-load button, to save water and electricity. Use short wash cycles for light soiling and dry washing outside when you can.
If your family is buying a new appliance remember that some models are more energy and water efficient than others check the efficiency label for energy and water consumption. Models marked A will be most efficient.
5. What else Can We Do Outside and Around the Community?
Groups and Organisations
Northumbrian Water has a mobile exhibition trailer that attends large public events throughout the region with a display entitled "Water - Our Liquid Asset". We also have speakers available to talk to groups and can arrange visits to our operational sites to explain the process of Sewage and Water Treatment. Call the External Relations Team on 0191 3832222 to discuss your requirements.Cars
If your family uses a hosepipe to wash the car you could be wasting up to 15 litres of water a minute. Use a bucket instead. Alternatively, if that is too energetic, take the car to a car wash that uses recycled water.Ponds
Pond water can evaporate quickly in hot weather. The water will warm up and there will be less oxygen in the water which means that the fish will suffer. Try to make ponds as deep and large as possible (but always safe) and cover a large part of the pond with water floating plants which will give the fish shade and reduce evaporation.Gardens and Grounds Maintenance Tips
Planting
Use mulch to reduce water loss from the soil surface.
Don’t dig deep during hot dry weather as it dries out soil a few inches down which may have been damp.
Put patio plants in larger pots which retain moisture better and line the pots with plastic to help keep water in. Group potted plants together to conserve moisture.
Watering
Hose pipes and sprinklers can use up to 15 litres a minute. If everyone turns them on at the same time- as often happens on a lovely summer evening - it can lead to low water pressure. Never leave a sprinkler running unattended. Use a watering can to control the amount of water you use. A garden sprinkler can use, in one hour, as much as a family of four uses in a whole day!
Water plants at the coolest time of day, usually the evening, to avoid the water evaporating. Different plants have different water needs so find out which need watering and when. And always avoid watering in windy conditions.
Giving established plant roots a soak once or twice a week in dry weather is more beneficial that daily light sprinkling. Always water plant roots and not their leaves.
Grass and hardy plant roots don’t need watering. Grass will recover and plant roots will grow down to find water. Trees and shrubs only need watering occasionally.
Mowing
Keep lawns green by regular mowing but leave the grass a little longer, no less than an inch and a quarter or 3.1cm. Raise the blade on the motor when its dry, to leave moisture in the grass, and leave the clippings on the lawn.Recycling Water
Use cooled used bath and washing up water for watering the roots of garden plants. But never use water that contains strong detergents, chemicals or household cleaning agents.
Put a rainwater butt in the garden to fill naturally when it rains and use this to water your plants. They can also be connected to your rainwater downpipe. Most DIY centres sell them and they are quite easy to install. A covering lid will help prevent debris falling into the butt.
Don’t Waste Water on Weeds
Remove them regularly as they use up valuable water, which your plants need.6. Have you thought about Getting a Water Meter?
Your bill for water and sewerage charges has probably been worked out on the basis of the rateable value for your home.
However, it may be worth having a meter installed, to measure what you actually use. If you are a low or average user of water your bill may be less. Since 1 April 1999 the installation of water meters for domestic properties has been free to customers.
Telephone our Customer Centre on 0345 171100 for an explanatory leaflet.
