Save water in your home with tips from Alex and Olivia Bowen
Projections from the National Audit Office show that water demand could exceed supply by 2036.
New research has also revealed that 70% of the UK thinks the country is at risk of drought over the next 10 years.
Affinity Water have teamed up with everyone’s favourite Love Island couple, Alex and Olivia Bowen, to launch their water-saving guidebook.
Entitled ‘The Water Saving House of the Future’, it offers innovative and practical solutions to help households to save water and protect the environment for the long-term.
Changing climate
According to the research by the National Audit Office, extreme weather, similar to that experienced in July 2022 is expected to become the norm in the coming years.
The driest summer for almost 90 years significantly weakened our water resilience.
This, combined with frequent and severe flooding during recent winters has overwhelmed infrastructure and strained water resources.
On the whole, the water supply is struggling to cope with national demand.
Water saving guidance
Affinity Water’s new guidebook aims to offer practical solutions to help households save water.
“From fixing leaks to protecting homes, any and all efforts to save water will help us protect this vital resource,” James Curtis, Head of Leakage at Affinity Water told us.
He continued: “This guidebook provides practical solutions, and by embracing these measures we can make a meaningful difference in safeguarding water for future generations.
At Affinity Water, we are dedicated to creating water-efficient and sustainable homes.”
As well as releasing the guidebook, Affinity Water is rolling out its first ever Smart Meter system, where customers can monitor their water consumption.
These detailed insights into our water usage can be viewed online through My Account to help households reduce waste.
This will not only save water, but the real-time insights mean you can easily monitor where your usage is coming from.
How to save water in your home
Here are some top tips, taken directly from the new guidebook, so you can start saving water at home straight away.
Installing low-flow fixtures
Replacing existing taps, showerheads, and toilets with low flow models is an easy way to quickly reduce your water usage.
This won’t sacrifice the performance of any of the fixtures, but it will cut down your water use, and therefore your water bills.
Add tap aerators
Aerators can be screwed onto existing taps and are designed to reduce water flow whilst maintaining the pressure.
This is another way to reduce usage and bills without purchasing and installing new ones.
Upgrade to water-efficient appliances
When your existing appliances are due an upgrade, consider replacing your dishwasher and washing machine with water efficient models.
When browsing for new ones, look for appliances with the WaterSense label, as these will use less water.
Rainwater harvesting
Set up a rainwater harvesting system to collect and store rainwater for use in the garden.
This can be as simple as installing a water butt, or simply leaving your watering can in the rain so it collects organically.
Drought-Resistant Landscaping
In your garden or green spaces, replace water intensive plants with native or drought-resistant species that will require less water.
Hidden leaks
It is also important to mention that one of the biggest culprits of water loss in the home is through hidden leaks.
Last year, Affinity Water teamed up with the Bowens on their Look and Listen campaign to help homeowners to fix leaks themselves. You can find out more about the campaign here.
Alex and Olivia told us: “We’re thrilled to be working with Affinity Water and support their mission to promote water conservation.
“Their new guidebook has been really helpful to us as we plan our future renovation projects.
“From installing low-flow fixtures to exploring greywater recycling, it’s packed with great ideas.
“The guidebook has inspired us to make sustainable choices to benefit the environment and increase the value of our home.”
Find out more about Affinity Water’s campaign on water saving, and better understand your water footprint here.
READ MORE: