Water Wise

Even though water doesn’t usually appear in short supply in Ireland, using less water actually means you are saving energy and reducing carbon emissions. Cleaning and pumping water is an energy intensive process, as is heating the hot water that comes out of our taps and showers.

If you would like to find ways to save water at home here are a few tips for how to go about it.

At Home

1. Fix Leaks Quickly

• Did you know between 5-8% of toilets are leaking? Why don’t you check to see if yours has a leak. Use a bit of food colouring in the cistern before you go to bed and check to see if your toilet bowl water has changed colour in the morning. If it has, you know you’ve got a leak. 
• A dripping tap or leaking toilet can waste thousands of litres per year.

2. Be Smart with Showers and Baths

• Take shorter showers and turn off the water while soaping. Put on your favourite 5 minute song and try to shower before the song ends. 

• Consider installing a water-efficient showerhead.

• Fancy a relaxing bath? Only fill the bath partially — every litre counts. When you’re done, consider saving the water and use a bucket to flush your toilet or water non-edible plants.

3. Kitchen and Dishes

• Collect water used from cooking. Once it has cooled you can use it to water plants with.
• Keep a jug next to the kitchen tap to collect any water that you run when waiting for the tap to heat up. You can use this to water your houseplants.
• Keep a jug of cold water in the fridge.
• Run dishwashers only when full and use eco-settings if available.
• Wash fruits and vegetables in a bowl instead of under running water.
• Don’t leave the tap running while cleaning or rinsing.

4. Laundry

• Wash clothes with full loads and at lower temperatures when possible.
• Consider eco or water-saving cycles if your machine has them.
• Try to reduce the number of loads each week.

5. Outdoor Water Use

• Water your garden early in the morning or late in the evening to reduce evaporation.
• Use a watering can instead of a hose  – a hose pipe can use up to 1000 litres of water an hour!
• Collect rainwater for plants if possible.

• Plant some drought resistant seeds. Some great examples are Lavender, Agapanthus ‘Silver Baby’ and Anchusa azurea. Take a look at some more options here.
• Stop watering your lawn. It’s ok to let your grass go brown during dry spells – it will bounce back as soon as it rains again.
• Check the weather before you water. Many plants can go at least a day without watering, and if you know rain is forecast for tomorrow then it’s ok to give it a miss today. The RHS have some great watering advice here.

At Work

1. Reporting and Fixing Leaks

• Notify maintenance of dripping taps, leaking toilets, or faulty equipment.
• Small leaks in offices can add up to large water losses over time.

2. Kitchens and Break Areas

• Only run dishwashers when full.
• Encourage colleagues to avoid leaving taps running.

3. Bathrooms and Hygiene

• Turn taps off completely after use.
• Dual flush toilet, figure out which button does what – left or right / big or small. Are you pressing the wrong button?
• Report any running toilets or blocked pipes promptly.

4. Awareness and Culture

• Share tips with colleagues — a water-wise workplace starts with everyone.
• Display reminders near sinks or water stations to switch off taps and save water.