Using Water Efficiently

It has been calculated that it is 2 to 4 times cheaper to save water rather than to build a completely new water source.

Top Tips For Saving Water

Fit taps with aerators - this can reduce the amount of water used by 50 per cent.
Fit a water hippo in the toilet cisterns. 30 per cent of your precious water supply is flushed down the toilet. Hippo water savers can be ordered by contacting 08457 440088 or by e-mail: waterline@waterni.gov.uk
Leaving a tap running can waste up to 9 litres a minute.
Wash vegetables or rinse dishes in a bowl rather than under a running tap.
Fix all leaking taps.
Always select the correct wash cycle on washing machines and don’t run with less than a full load.

Other measures that could be considered to make more efficient use of water are:

Encouragement to include more efficient toilets and more efficient use of grey water (from baths/showers) in planning guidance or building control regulations through incentives to make homes and business premises more water efficient.
An education programme to encourage recycling of grey water (from baths/showers) to use in gardens or for washing cars and fleet vehicles.
Provision of tax incentives (e.g. reduced VAT) on water efficient products or through a water efficiency scheme similar to the HeatSmart scheme available for energy. This scheme provides free and independent heating advice for Housing Executive tenants. This would help promote more efficient use of water and could help reduce bills for those on lowest incomes.
Establishment of a water efficiency index for domestic appliances similar to the EU energy label or the Energy Saving recomended logo.