As the country is set to enjoy a long spell of warm weather, Uisce Éireann, announced an appeal encouraging the public in Meath to help protect the country’s water supplies by adopting simple water-saving practices at home, in the garden, and at work. As part of the appeal Uisce Éireann has teamed up with broadcaster Kathryn Thomas to help raise awareness of the importance of water conservation.
Already the water network is experiencing increased pressure on supplies across several regions, including counties Dublin, Limerick, Tipperary, Waterford, Cork, Galway, Donegal, Meath, Westmeath, Clare, and Wexford. The Kells-Oldcastle Public Water Supply is currently under a Water Conservation Order.
The aim of the appeal is to remind the public that saving water doesn’t have to be difficult. By making small adjustments, we can all contribute to managing water more efficiently.
Below are some easy water-saving tips:
Leave the hose in the shed: Drop the hose during the summer months. Use a rose head watering can to water your plants instead of a hose or sprinkler. Running a hose for just one hour uses as much water as a family would typically need in an entire day.
Bucket and sponge for your car: Using a bucket and sponge to wash your car can save hundreds of litres of water compared to using a hose or power washer.
Turn off the tap: Brushing your teeth with the tap running wastes up to six litres of water per minute. Turning it off while brushing can reduce that to just one litre.
Switch to a shower: Showers use about half the amount of water as baths. Invest in water saving appliances such as water efficient taps and shower heads.
Shorter showers: With the average shower using seven litres of water per minute by turning your five-minute shower into four minutes, you could save up to seven litres of water per day!
Fully load your appliances: Always ensure your dishwasher and washing machine are fully loaded before use. A typical washing machine uses approximately 65 litres of water, and a dishwasher uses around 20 litres per cycle. By ensuring they are fully loaded, not only will you conserve water, but you will also reduce your energy bills.
