New calculator for households to help track their water usage

RESEARCH commissioned by Irish Water shows that over half of Irish households (53%) admit to wasting water, even though some eight in ten (78%) know it is important to take steps to conserve it.

The research coincides with the launch of Irish Water’s new, Conservation Calculator, which will assist households across the country to assess their water usage habits and find out how much water they are saving on a daily basis. It also offers useful and practical tips on how to reduce water usage and track their progress.

The free tool was developed in response to research which shows consumers want additional tools to assist them conserve water and is available at www.water.ie/calculator

The research also highlights that less than one in five respondents report actively conserving water in their homes. However, almost two in five (40%) reveal that they are interested in future planned water services initiatives.

This new Conservation Calculator was developed in response to this interest and will arm households nationwide to understand more readily how they use water in their home which can lead to better water conservation actions.

By answering just a few short questions about water usage habits, households of all sizes can calculate how much water they are currently saving, and what they could do to save even more. The average water use of one person is 133 litres per day, and results from the calculator are based on the water use of typical households of similar sizes. The Conservation Calculator provides helpful advice for those wanting to ensure they use water responsibly to improve their score rating.

Simple water saving tips include:

Keep a jug of water in the fridge rather than letting the tap run cold and save six litres a day.

Making sure the tap is off while brushing teeth can save 84 litres of water a week.

Reducing shower time by 60 seconds can save up to 120 litres of water every week.

250 litres of water a week can be saved by fixing any leaking or dripping taps in the garden.

Ensure washing machines and dishwashers are full before running.

In addition, Irish Water is also continuing its First Fix Free programme which helps households that may be using higher level of water than average, which could signal a potential leakage problem.

The Irish Water team will investigate the cause of the leak and fix the issue to curtail any further potential leaks. This is in line with Irish Water’s collaborative approach to water conservation where all working together can safeguard our precious water resources.

Speaking at the launch, Ian O Mahoney, Irish Water’s Regional Operations Manager said: “As we move into the summer months it’s important to that we all consider our water usage and look at simple yet impactful ways to conserve water in the home. It can sometimes be difficult to know where to start, but even small changes can make a difference.”

The Conservation Calculator is available at www.water.ie/calculator