How we should be reducing our water usage

Water is definitely not an infinite resource, but it’s very easy to take our supply of uncontaminated water for granted. We use water for a wide range of things such as drinking, bathing, cooking and washing our cars, but we rarely think about where it comes from and often just assume it will always be there when we turn on the tap. However, with global warming and population increases, the government has suggested that water shortages in the near future are a serious possibility. As a result, they have some strict water efficiency targets with the aim of getting manufacturers to produce more water-efficient products and for the public to take steps to reduce the amount of water being used in their households. Water companies have warned that, whilst they are investing in better infrastructure like improved pipework and new reservoirs, the UK needs to drastically cut down on wasted water otherwise water bills will be set to increase quite sharply. Whilst people have a general awareness that wasting water is bad, the water industry has said it faces quite a challenge with getting the public to put the theory of what they should be doing with water into everyday practise. Research has shown that we are continuing to use inefficient showers, having deeper baths and leaving the tap running when we wash up. Figures suggest that leaving the tap running when we brush our teeth can actually waste as much as 6 litres per minute, so making small alterations to our behaviour can have a huge impact on the amount of water we use. SInce 1930, the water usage of an individual in the UK has increased year on year and we are now at a stage where the average person uses 150 litres of water per day. It’s also estimated that we use as much as 50% more water everyday that many other northern European countries. The installation of water meters has led to a lot of people being more aware of the water they are using. Likewise, new additions to the Building Regulations has meant that many new builds are have more water-efficient components installed. However, the main weakness is the battle against over-usage is in our bathrooms. Power showers that use more water than an average bath are very common with many holding the mistaken belief that water efficient showers mean a less than satisfactory showering experience. Water efficient bathroom technology has improved greatly in recent years with a vast number of products available that are stylish, water efficient and provide a satisfying cascade of water. The biggest task facing manufacturers is to convince customers that they will not compromise their comfort by making the switch to more water efficient products. In the central heating industry, much progress has also been made with heating components now using far less water to heat homes than in years gone by. Boilers are far more efficient, heat pumps more effective and radiators are able to heat rooms with much less water than older designs. One of our most efficient radiators are aluminium designer radiators which, due to aluminium being an excellent conductor of heat, means they are able to reach the desired temperature quickly and therefore using less water and gas to function. Naturally this results in lower water and gas bills with the added bonus that aluminium is highly recyclable. Our aluminium radiators are made almost exclusively from recycling metal and once they eventually reach the end of their life, they are easy to break down and be put to use again. If you want to use a radiator made from recycled metals and contributes to reducing the UK's water consumption, please take a look at our fantastic range of aluminium radiators. Article by Benjamin Clarke RELATED ARTICLES • Why using Water Regulation Advisory Scheme approved products makes sense 12th Nov 2015  • Why it's important to keep you central heating system clean 22nd Jan 2015  • The benefits of aluminium radiators 26th Jun 2013   

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