Public ignorant of water usage

ALMOST half of the public vastly underestimate the amount of water they use each day, according to a survey.

Water UK and water efficiency experts Waterwise are hoping to educate the public about their water use amid the coronavirus crisis, which has put increased pressure on supplies.

An online survey of 2,190 adults in the UK found some 46% believe their household uses 20 litres of water a day – roughly equivalent to taking a two-minute shower.

Water UK said the average person actually uses 142 litres, meaning an average family of four could be using more than 500 litres each day.

Just under a fifth (17%) of respondents believe they consume between 20-39 litres a day while some 15% think they use 40-59 litres.

Some 66% of 18 to 34-yearolds believe their household uses under 20 litres, with just over a quarter (26%) of over-65s giving the same answer.

While many respondents were unsure about the amount of water they use, some 68% said they were willing to reduce the amount they use at home to help protect the environment.

Some 63% reported always turning the tap off when they brush their teeth, with just over two-fifths (42%) worried about parts of the UK running out of water in the next 25 years.

Water companies are calling on the Government to use the Environment Bill to introduce water efficiency measures, such as labels on washing machines and dishwashers to show how much water is used.

Christine McGourty, chief executive of Water UK, said: “The results of this survey illustrate the importance of our Water’s Worth Saving campaign to show the public the value and importance of saving water.

“It’s been a typically unsettled British summer but we’ve also seen periods of very hot weather in parts of the country. This combined with more people at home and the surge in ‘staycations’ has seen record levels of water demand and has put huge pressure on supplies.

“But there’s things we can all do to save water and small changes can make a big difference. Whether it’s reusing the water from a paddling pool or taking a shorter shower, we all have a role to play in ensuring we have enough water now and for future generations.”