Unbelievable amounts of water can be saved by taking simple water saving measures. Water use can be cut to an amazing 89 per cent in some cases.

It is easier than we think to save water but we must change many of our water-wasting habits. Turning taps off when we brush our teeth is a measure that can alone save us up to five litres of water a minute. Believe it or not, if the entire adult population of England and Wales did this, they could save a total of 180 mega litres a day, enough to supply nearly 500,000 houses.

For a quick and cheap way of saving water we must turn off water taps even when shaving or washing our faces and hands. Dripping taps can waste up to four litres of water a day, so worn tap washers must be replaced immediately. Power showers can use more water than a bath in under five minutes; a five-minute shower uses about a third of the water of a bath. Cotton wool and tissues etc must be disposed of in a waste bin because as much as nine litres of clean water is consumed every time the toilet is flushed.

Half-load programmes on dishwashers and washing machines use more than half the water and energy of a full load. Ideally, we must wait until we have a full load before switching the machines on.

We should wash vegetables and fruit in a bowl rather than under a running tap and we can use the leftover water for watering house plants. Using the minimum amount of water required when we boil water in saucepans and kettles will save us water as well as energy. We could install instant water heaters in our kitchen sinks to avoid water running while it heats up. We should defrost food overnight in the refrigerator or in microwaves and not use water to thaw meat or other frozen foods.

Watering our gardens in the cool of the early morning or evening reduces the amount of water lost to evaporation as does watering less often. Try collecting rainwater in water butts for the job. If a hosepipe is used, a trigger nozzle can be fitted to control the flow but do not hose down driveways or sidewalks instead of sweeping.

Regularly weeding and hoeing our gardens will ensure that our watering is helping plants and not weeds. Over-watering plants weakens them and we should learn to ignore them until they show signs of wilting. Mulches such as wood chips, bark and gravel help to prevent water evaporation and also suppress weed growth, saving both water and time spent weeding.

Garden sprinklers can use as much water in an hour as a family of four uses in a day. Incidentally, lawns cut higher encourage grass roots to grow deeper, shades the root system and hold soil moisture better than closely-clipped lawns. We can also consider forfeiting the "prettier" flowery versions by planting native plants, flowers and shrubs adapted to the local climate and rainfall.

We can save water everywhere. Being water-wise is good for your business. All commercial organisations use water, but how many know exactly how much of this precious resource they are using? If you are a manufacturing industry then water bills could be costing your company over one per cent of business turnover. If you are in the retail, hospitality or service sector you could save up to 50 per cent of your water bill. Even if your water use is only for the offices you occupy, there are ways to save water with payback periods measured in months! The first thing you need to do if you want to save water is to work out how much you use.

In the UK, with the introduction of the Water Act 2003, all public bodies now have a duty to "conserve water". By monitoring water use and comparing it to benchmarks, consumers can save up to 50 per cent of their water bill. The Water Act 2003 places a duty on all public bodies to "take into account, where relevant, the desirability of conserving water supplied or to be supplied to premises". Every person can make a difference.

Every drop counts. A Waste Not Want Not! awareness campaign on electricity and water cutbacks is a must. Hurry up Enemalta and Water Services Corporation. Send us an informative flyer when you next send our utility bills. Consider also using TV and radio promos, internet sites, billboards, signs at our workplaces, education in schools... The country is paying too high a price for our ignorance.

Time is of paramount importance. Let's stop the drain now.

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