Why Is It Important To Reduce Water Usage?

• Low flow taps. These cost the same as normal taps, but use less water by reducing the flow.  There are different types, so let’s look at a few. Taps with flow regulators can be fitted to the tail of the tap or the tap’s spout.  If they’re cheap ones, inline restrictors may be your only option.
• Click taps (ones with water brakes) can be found across most tap manufacturers.  As you raise the tap lever to turn it on, the water flow increases to achieve about 50% of full flow.  You have to apply additional pressure to the tap to overcome the water brake and increase the flow above 50%.
• Proximity sensor taps don’t require the user to touch them and are electrically powered.  These are taps you’re more likely to see in a public area rather than the home, though, as they’re expensive and not always suitable for use at home.
• Low volume flush WCs. Toilets now have a maximum flush allowed when they’re new.  So dual-flush are the way forward.  But what about if you already have an old toilet?  Save-a-flush bags can be put in the cistern, or Hippo bags.

• Reduced volume baths. You can reduce the volume of water a bath uses either by lowering the overflow, or by reducing the width to provide depth of water.  Both of these options are easy to find on the market.  Shallower baths can be safer for young children and easier for elderly people to get in to.
• Low flow showers. To reduce the flow of your shower, you can replace the normal shower head with a reduced-flow one.  You can also get a low flow shower unit (including showerhead, hose, valve, tray and cubicle).  Aerated low flow shower heads add air to the water flow and give the feeling of a more luxurious shower, whilst still conserving water.
• Electric showers (not power showers) generally use less water and a lower flow rate.  They heat up the water they use as they need, so the flow rate usually relates to how quickly water can be heated in the unit.
• Terminal fitting flow restrictors. The flow of water from a tap or showerhead (both terminal fittings) can be reduced by the fitting of a flow restrictor.  To put it simply, this puts a physical restriction in, to reduce the volume of water that can pass it.
• Aeration fittings. Like we mentioned before in aeration shower fittings, you can also get these in taps.  Aerated tap fittings add air to the water flow, and work best in high pressure systems, so wouldn’t work well in cistern-fed systems.
• Water recycling systems. Rainwater harvesting systems – these include small-scale things like water butts and larger-scale water tanks that not only supply non-potable water, but also help with storm water management.  Rainwater is usually collected from the roof.  You need to ensure enough surface area is used for the system to provide enough non-potable water to make it worthwhile.  Otherwise, the system will need to supplement with mains water, which is inefficient and costly. Rainwater will need to be disinfected, then you can use it for flushing your toilet, watering your garden and washing your car.  Rainwater harvesting systems need regular maintenance and must be designed to ensure that rainwater and potable water don’t mix.
• Greywater recycling systems – Greywater is defined as wastewater without faecal matter.  This is usually wastewater from baths and showers.  They come in different sizes and capacities, and can have different complexities and price tags.  In a greywater recycling system, the water should be treated to prevent bacterial growth.  If it’s not treated, it should only be stored for a maximum of 24 hours.  Greywater can be used for flushing toilets, some wash programs on washing machines, and watering lawns, so long as not in a sprinkler system.

• Composting toilets don’t use water, but rely on natural processes to make compost.