Strictly embargoed until
00:01 24 September 2009 Nation of water wasters – new campaign to
save 20 litres a day
News Release issued by
the COI News Distribution Service on 23 September 2009
Britain is a
nation of water wasters, according to a new Defra campaign
launched today. The average household uses over 100,000 litres of
water a year – that’s the equivalent of 317 pints or 150 litres
per person per day.
Taking steps now to use water wisely will help ensure the future
of our water supply, help to limit the effects of climate change
and protect the natural environment – and save money in the process.
Fronted by TV presenter Kate Humble, the Act on CO2 campaign aims
to help people to save 20 litres a day each with simple tips to
reduce everyday water usage.
Despite being an island – and our reputation for wet weather –
the UK actually has less available water per head than many
European countries including France, Italy and Greece. London, for
example, has less annual rainfall than Rome, Paris or Naples. As
pressure intensifies on our already limited water resources from a
growing population, infrastructure development, lifestyle choices
and climate change water is an increasingly precious resource we
need to conserve.
Environment Minister Huw Irranca-Davies said:
"We are already taking too much water from some of our
rivers and groundwater to meet demand but we can’t maintain this
without seriously harming our environment, especially as our
climate becomes warmer and drier in places. If we don’t act now we
could lose some of our precious biodiversity forever. Not only
that but continued wasteful consumption of water is harming our
climate for future generations due to the energy used in the
supply process.
"It is vital that we all act now and take these simple
steps to waste less water in our day to day lives to help protect
our future."
The water saving campaign shows how even simple measures can
make a big difference including:
- Turning off the tap while brushing your teeth saves six litres
of water a minute
- Cutting your shower time by just one minute can save nine
litres of water
- Using a bowl to wash your dishes rather than leaving the tap
running saves up to six litres a minute.
- Using a watering can or a bucket in the garden or washing the
car instead of a hosepipe saves 16 litres a minute.
Research shows that 87 percent of people don’t use a water-saving
bag in their toilet cistern yet this could save one litre of water
per flush with minimal outlay or effort. Similarly only 3 percent
use an aerated/water efficient shower head which could save up to
six litres of water a minute. Making simple water saving tips can
also help you save money through reduced energy bills and water
bills if you’re on a meter.
Kate Humble who is spear-heading the campaign said:
"Water is a precious resource but we all waste too much
of it. Saving water at home doesn’t need to be a big sacrifice -
just spending one minute less in the shower can make a big
difference. Simple changes can really add up to a better
environment - meaning more water for the wildlife and countryside
around us as well as saving on carbon emissions generated in the
treatment and transportation of water to our taps."
Notes to Editors
1. Facts and figures:
- The average person in the UK uses 150 litres of water a day.
- The average person in Germany uses 127 litres a day.
- By 2020 it is estimated that increasing population and housing
growth will mean the demand for water increases by 5% - that’s
800million extra litres of water a day.
- The embedded emissions (energy consumption in treatment
processes and in re-heating in our homes etc) in the use of hot
water in our homes for personal and household washing, cooking and
cleaning contributes around 35 million tonnes of greenhouse gases
a year.
- The average family uses 500 litres of water a day – which
equates to 1.5 tonnes of greenhouse gases per year.
- Defra’s water strategy for England – Future Water – outlines a
vision to reduce daily water consumption by 20 litres per person
by 2030.
2. Government action:
- Ofwat annual leakage targets have resulted in leakage figures
falling by 36% since 1994/5
- Amendments to the Building Regulations will set a calculated
whole building performance standard of 125 litres per head per day
for water use in new homes by 2010.
- The voluntary Code for Sustainable Homes has established
performance standards for new homes including a minimum
performance level for water use.
3. The Act on CO2 campaign includes national print and radio
advertising. Details of the top tips and more information on why
it is important to save water can be found at www.direct.gov.uk/actonco2
. Kate Humble has presented an information film on water saving
tips. Copies of the film are available for broadcast from the
Defra or EST press office.
4. Defra has also published research on the Public Understanding
of Sustainable Water Use in the Home which can be found at www.defra.gov.uk. The research
found that:
There is little awareness of water as a serious environmental
issue nor of the severity of water scarcity issues in the UK;
People have little concept of the impact of wasteful
behaviours and therefore do not see water efficiency as a serious
issue;
Water usage is based on ingrained habits, beliefs that
water is plentiful and a right, as well as a lack of conscious
awareness;
A number of misconceptions around water usage come
into play, which are barriers to the adoption of water efficient
behaviours. For example perceptions that there is no serious
threat as the UK is an island surrounded by water; a belief that
it continuously rains, and; supply issues are not as bad as other countries;
People are surprised by the amount of water used in everyday
activities, the lack of effort needed to change their behaviour
and do not feel that action is unreasonable.
5. The ONS 2009 tracker survey, commissioned by Defra and the
EST, of Public Attitudes and Behaviours towards the Environment,
which includes attitudes to water, was published on 23 September
2009 and is available at
defra.gov.uk/evidence/statistics/environment/pubatt/download/report-attitudes-behaviours2009.pdf
Contacts:
Defra Press Office
NDS.DEFRA@coi.gsi.gov.uk
Rachel Clark
Phone: 020 7238 5599
rachel.clark@defra.gsi.gov.uk