There was a major increase in use of water efficient appliances in 2016, including taps, showers and washing machines, according to a report commissioned by Ideal Standard and Waterwise.
The survey undertaken at the end of the year found that there has been an 18% increase in the number of British adults actively taking action when it comes to addressing water saving, up to 88% of respondents this year compared to 70% in 2015.
Actions include using water efficient appliances and taking steps to reduce wastage, for example, not leaving the tap running.
The annual water-efficiency tracker survey from bathroom company Ideal Standard and independent water efficiency organisation, Waterwise, looks at the UK’s attitudes and behaviour in all aspects of water management.
Despite the improvement, as many as 37% of those surveyed said they do not know how much water they use in a day, suggesting that the UK does not understand where its water consumption comes from.
The results suggest that those with a water meter, who can actively see how much water they are using, are more likely to be water savvy than those paying a fixed tariff - 82% of those with a water meter who responded to the survey actively take steps to reduce water usage and therefore save money, compared to just 30% of those with a set bill.
Those that did not know how their water charges are calculated were less able to estimate how much water they use each day and were more likely to underestimate this figure.
Katie Cope, marketing director at Ideal Standard, said: “While we all know that saving water is a great way to create a more sustainable environment, it’s clear that it is the personal finance aspect of water saving that really drives UK consumers to consider how to reduce their water usage.
“Almost a fifth more of UK consumers are now actively taking action when it comes to cutting back on water consumption compared to this time last year – an enormous rise in just 12 months. This result suggests the need to effectively manage a household budget is tying in well with an increased awareness of the need to take account for how much water we all use on a daily basis.”
To see the report in full, visit:
www.waterwise.org.uk/data/Tracker_Survey_/Annual_Tracker_Survey_Report_2016.pdf.
Water saving tips from Ideal Standard and Waterwise
Ideal Standard and Waterwise have compiled some top tips for consumers to save water easily. While many are common sense, on average more than 50% of us don’t take these basic steps to reduce how much water we use and save money.
We can all help reduce waste by making small behavioural changes around the home and by choosing more water efficient products.
In the bathroom
In the kitchen
Doing the laundry
When it comes to drinking water
This is one area you should NOT cut back your usage, UK tap water is one of the best in the world. Enjoy it.
Image courtesy of Shutterstock/cglandmark
If you'd like to keep up-to-date with the latest developments in the heating and plumbing industry, why not subscribe to our weekly newsletters? Just click the button below and you can ensure all the latest industry news and new product information lands in your inbox every week.