#SaveTheWaterForest
Nowadays when awareness about the environment is affecting decisions relating to all aspects of our lives from recycling, to energy conservation, travel etc. saving water is an area in which by introducing a series of simple and practical adjustments we can really make a difference. The savings calculator of the WaterForest initiative, a campaign sponsored by Noken Porcelanosa Bathrooms, provides empirical data connected with a menu of suggested adjustments that can also be achieved through the installation of the WaterForset collection of sanitary fittings.
In the UK a single person household consumes 150 L of water per day while a household of 5 can use up to 550 L according to recent statistics.
Water is projected to be the oil of the future and even a cursory understanding of how water is supplied reveals the ever increasing distances it must travel to reach us. It follows then that water should be treated with the respect a precious resource deserves.
Introducing good habits and water saving practices
From the moment we wake up in the morning to the last thing at night our interaction with water is fundamental to our wellbeing. The choice of installing water saving products for the home including water saving taps and water saving shower can have an impact on water consumption and reduce water bills.
One of the great advances in water conservation is the addition of air, known as an aerator, to the flow of water from taps and shower heads.
A normal bathroom sink faucet typically consumes 12 L per minute when opened; this can potentially be reduced by 89% with water flow restrictors in basin taps, while the AIR ECO aerator can provide 10% reduction for Shower Heads. The sensation of volume is augmented while reducing consumption, however simple habits like spending shorter amounts of time in the shower (which consumes 20 L per minute) and turning off the taps while soaping hands, brushing teeth and shaving can also make a difference.
Flushing appropriately
Intuitively it seems obvious that greater water savings can also be made through a more appropriate toilet flush. Typically flushing the toilet uses 12 L of water which can be reduced by 55% with a dual flush from the WaterForest range. These water saving toilets with dual flush option are typical of the greater interest in water saving technologies that are gradually replacing less efficient products in the home.
Energy and water
Allowing the hot water faucet to flow until the right temperature is reached is another area where improvements can be introduced, installing a modern water heater and appropriate tap, which also has the side benefit of saving energy and reducing CO2 emissions. A thermostatic shower head allows a more rigorous control over water temperature, avoids fluctuations and makes for a smoother more regulated experience, as well as saving water and energy.
For the kitchen
The other area of the home where water is an intrinsic feature is the kitchen and although it may seem counter intuitive a dish washer is also a way of saving water, the more efficient the model the greater the savings.
Lifestyle tips
Choosing a shower over a bath can also impact on water use as well as the number of showers or baths taken weekly and the time spent in the shower.
According to the World Health Organisation we spend on average 10 minutes in the shower which can use up to 200 L of water, while normally a bath uses 250 L of water.
If we cut our shower time in half to 5 minutes a shower featuring Noken WaterForest products with a reduced flow of 6 L per minute can use as little as 30 L, a reduction of 88% water use.
Regular maintenance of sanitary installations should also be a feature of our water conservation regime bearing in mind that a leaking tap, shower head or WC cistern can account for wasting 4.32 L a day or over an entire year 1,577 L.
And of course remember to turn the tap off while soaping hands, brushing teeth or shaving, with this one lifestyle change 18 L can be saved with each operation. With electronic faucets this is done automatically.
The human skin is truly a marvel of Mother Nature with inbuilt mechanisms for self-regulation. Over washing can indeed be harmful, an example of the need to use water intelligently, perhaps not always immediately obvious but nevertheless essential for the future of our planet.
