Saving Water

70% of the world's surface is covered in water, but 97% of it is salt water and only 3% is freshwater. Of this 3%, ¾ of the water is frozen. This leaves less than 1% of all the world's water to be shared by all the people, plants and animals on this whole planet!

Water facts:

• Each person in Scotland uses an average of 143 litres of water a day.
• With over 5 million Scottish Water customers that's around 9 million baths every day!
• A tap that drips once a second wastes 33 litres a day - that's 446 showers a year!
• By saving water we save money, energy and help the environment.

Ways you can save water:

• In the kitchen:
  • Don't leave a running tap. Put the plug in or use a basin when washing dishes or vegetables
  • Don't fill the kettle if you only want a cup of tea -  boiling just the water you need saves water and electricity
  • Wait until you have a full load before you put the washing machine on. If you must do smaller loads, use the half load cycle
    

• In the bathroom:
  • Turn off the tap when you brush your teeth
  • Take a shower instead of a bath
  • If your toilet has a large or old cistern, fit it with a water saving device
    

• Outside:
  • Use a watering can instead of a hose
  • Collect rainwater in a container or water butt to water your plants. They prefer rainwater anyway!
  • Use a sponge and bucket instead of a hosepipe to wash the car
  • Use a brush to clean paths and driveways instead of a hose