Reducing Water Wastage in the UK

Despite the summer rain, water efficiency champion Waterwise is still calling for everyone to save water and waste less. In fact, saving water can help save us from extreme flooding.

Whilst it is clear we should not build in the floodplain, we can all help reduce the impact of floods by making small behavioural changes in our own homes.

‘Floods and droughts are both occurring naturally as part of the same problem - climate change. The British weather is changing and becoming more extreme. This means that we will see more droughts and floods in future and even both at the same time. Using water wisely can help reduce the effects of both these extremes.’ says Jacob Tompkins, Director of Waterwise.

One way of doing this is to install a water butt to reduce the impacts of heavy rainfall. Floods occur as a result of extreme precipitation and are worse in built up areas as more water pours off roofs and patios and along impermeable paved front gardens. We can all help reduce the flood risk by slowing the water down. By capturing runoff water from your roof in a water butt we can reduce the impacts of heavy rainfall on the environment and therefore reduce flooding. We can then use the water when the dry times return.

In addition, try not to pave over your entire front garden as this increases water run off and creates further flooding. Use permeable surfaces like lawns and well composted soils to allow the water to soak into the ground.

This may seem trivial but when a river is about to break its banks, every drop of water saved at home can reduce the flood peak and prevent a disaster.

Practicing water efficiency protects the sewerage system too! During floods the sewerage system works overtime to treat and pump the excess water that overfills the sewers. Small behavioural changes like not running the tap when you brush your teeth, reducing your toilet flush volume or taking shorter showers mean that less water goes to the sewers and reduces the chance of sewage overflows.

For more information on floods and droughts and water efficiency please visit www.waterwise.org.uk

Notes to Editors
1. Waterwise is an independent, not for profit, non-governmental organisation focused on decreasing water consumption in the UK by 2010 and building the evidence base for large scale water efficiency. We are the leading authority on water efficiency in the UK. We sit on the UK Environment Minister’s Water Saving Group alongside the water industry and regulators.

2. Our aim is to reverse the upward trend in how much water we all use at home and at work by 2010.

3. We work together with key partners in the water companies, governments (UK, Scotland, Wales, Northern Ireland and local governments), manufacturers, retailers, NGOs, environmentalists, regulators, agriculture, business, domestic consumers and the media.

4. For more information please visit www.waterwise.org.uk

5. Blueprint for Water – 10 steps for sustainable by 2015 – www.blueprintforwater.org.uk

Contacts:
Chris Philpot
Media and Campaigns Manager, Waterwise
020 7957 4615
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1 Queen Anne’s Gate, London, SW1H 9BT

Jacob Tompkins
Director, Waterwise
07793 709567
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1 Queen Anne’s Gate, London, SW1H 9BT