16 Oct How not to flush your cash away when water bills arrive
Click to see a bigger version of the graphic
PAUL MELIA
SPENDING a minute less a day in the shower and turning off the tap when brushing your teeth will help reduce water bills by almost 30pc when charges are introduced, a new survey shows.
Simple measures to reduce consumption can help lower bills, conserve water and result in lower annual bills, according to Irish Water.
The survey by the network operator shows that average consumption stands at 150 litres per day per person – the equivalent of two bath tubs – but much of this is wasted.
Overfilling kettles, taking long showers and not filling washing machines are the most common wasteful practices, with the survey showing that 81pc of 2,000 respondents do not know how much water they use on a daily basis.
The research was published as part of a public information campaign to inform customers about the value of water and the benefits of making simple changes. It says that each person consumes some 150 litres of water per day, or 54,750 litres of water per year, much of which is flushed away.
Water charges will be introduced from autumn next year with the first bills expected to land through letter boxes the following January.
While the costs have yet to be decided by the Commission for Energy Regulation, which will regulate the sector, the price per 1,000 litres of water currently paid by commercial customers to local authorities range from €1.59 in Kildare to €3.03 in Wicklow, according to employers’ group Ibec.
Using the average of €2.37, the figures show that average annual water bills per person will be €129.75, but that does not include the free allowance promised by the government.
But making changes will help reduce the average bill.
Showers are one of the biggest consumers of water, with the average seven-minute shower using 49 litres, with power showers using up to 175 litres.
The survey shows that two in every three homes have a power shower, using 63,800 litres a year per user. Reducing your shower time by just one minute could save up to 9,000 litres of water per year – leaving you with €21.33 more in your wallet.
Brushing your teeth with the tap running is one of the most common ways of wasting water, with six litres of water used per minute. By turning off the tap when brushing your teeth, it is estimated that up to 7,000 litres of water can be saved per year – yielding a saving of €16.59.
In all, immediate savings of €37.92 can be made – reducing annual bills per person by almost 30pc.
“It’s clear from the findings that many of us are unaware of the sheer volume of water we are using on a daily basis,” Elizabeth Arnett from Irish Water said. “It also confirms that there are many opportunities for us to reduce water wastage. Understanding how much water we use will help us determine how much we can save.
“In advance of water charges being introduced, there are simple steps people can take to make a big difference to the amount they use.”
The survey also shows that 81pc of respondents underestimate how much water an average washing machine or dishwasher uses per load.
However, 90pc said they fully load the washing machine, which helps to conserve water and save money by reducing energy bills.
Two-thirds of those surveyed also said they tended to overfill kettles, while 28pc with a garden had never heard of a water butt, or a container for collecting rainwater from the roof and downpipes which can be used for watering plants or washing the car.
Further information on water conservation is available at www.taptips.ie.
Irish Independent