97.5% of the world’s water is locked in seas and oceans, too salty for human use. And most of the remaining 2.5% is in the ice caps.
So we humans depend on the tiny bit available as fresh water – an essential natural resource for life.
But we don't just use water for drinking. We wash in it, clean with it, and use it to produce everything from clothing to food. Crop production – including feed for livestock and biofuels – is putting a great strain on fresh water supplies.
Save water, save our planet
1. Turn off the taps
Don't let your water consumption run out of control. Save 6 litres of water a minute by turning off your tap while you brush your teeth. Fix leaky taps too – and stop what could be 60 litres of water going straight down the drain every week.
2. Shower with less
Every minute you spend in a power shower uses up to 17 litres of water . Set a timer on your phone to keep your showers short, sweet and water-saving.
Switching to an efficient shower head will allow you to lather up in less water, which means you'll save water and cut your bills.
3. Save up your dirty clothes
Washing a full machine load of clothes uses less water and energy than 2 half-loads . This means lower bills as well.
4. Reduce food waste
5. Time your gardening
6. Catch rainwater
Installing water butts saves up to 5,000 litres of water a year . And your plants will thank you for rainwater rather than treated tap water.
You can also cut water use by 33% by watering plants manually instead of using automatic sprinklers.
7. Get a low-flush toilet
The average UK household flushes the loo 5,000 times per year . Modern dual-flush systems save huge amounts of water. They use just 6 litres – or 4 with a reduced flush – much less than the 13 litres for each old-style single flush.
If you can't invest in a new loo, get a water-saving bag for your old-style toilet .
8. No more washing up
Got a dishwasher? Fill it up completely each time you run it and you'll use less water than you would doing the dishes by hand. Yes, even if you're using a washing-up bowl. What better excuse to go and have a nice sit down?
Find out more about the most water- and energy-efficient ways to run your appliances from the Energy Saving Trust.
9. Quality and seasonal eating
10. Boil what you need
Save water, money and energy by only boiling as many cups of water as you need.
11. Steam your veggies
Steam your food to cut water usage and retain more of the natural nutrients.
If you do boil, try using the leftover water as a tasty stock for soups. Or let it cool and use it to water plants.
12. Be plumbing prepared
Regularly check your kitchen pipes and the dishwasher hose for slow leaks.
Find out where your household stop valve is and make sure that you can turn it on and off. You'll thank us if you ever have a burst pipe, because you'll be able to cut off the flow before it floods the house.
Find a contact number for your water supplier , so that if you find a leak you can let them know and stop water being wasted.
13. Don't fund the water-grabbers
Put pressure on government
Around the world, governments can also help to save fresh water and prevent water pollution by:
- measuring water use and setting targets to reduce it
- obliging large companies to measure and manage the amount of resources they use
- encouraging lower water diets – including reduced meat consumption
- supporting industry to make water-intensive products last longer
- providing consumers with the tools to understand the water impacts of the things they buy
- making laws to increase water recycling
- preventing people and companies from polluting waterways by making laws against using toxic chemicals which could pollute our soils.
Join a Climate Action group and help drive change locally and nationally.
Friends of the Earth is the world’s largest grassroots environmental network. Do they work near you?
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