5 Top Tips for Holme Improvement
No. 1 Conserve Water
Healthy, well-cared for rivers provide food, shelter and a breeding ground for invertebrates, fish and mammals. In turn, they provide food for larger animals, which is all vital for a healthy, functioning ecosystem.
Here are our top tips for easy ways that you to help our rivers by using less water.
Our rivers are shrinking as communities drain water for industrial and personal use, which cannot be replaced quickly enough by precipitation. We can all help to reverse this effect by conserving water.
1. Take shorter showers
Cut down the length of time you spend in the shower. If you usually spend 10 minutes, cut this to 7 minutes, then 5 minutes and eventually see how short your shower can be. If you have a bath, put the plug in first, when the warmer water flows through, it will heat up the cold water.
2. Turn off water when not in use
Turn off the tap while brushing your teeth, shaving or conditioning your hair.
3. Avoid using hosepipes
Only use hoses sparingly and avoid using them for cleaning purposes if possible.
4. Fully load washers
Wait until you have enough clothes for a full load before running your washing machine. Each cycle takes up a lot of water and electricity, so make sure you fill the machine first. If you desperately need an article of clothing, handwash it instead.
5. Wash clothes less frequently
Do you really need to wash that jumper that you wore for ten minutes to pop to the shops? Only wash clothes and fabrics when there’s a genuine need.
6. Reuse unused water
Collect rainwater in a barrel to use in your garden during dry spells.
7. Never take a holiday from conserving water
Conserve water even if you’re at work, in a hotel or away from home. You might feel as if it doesn’t count if you’re on holiday, but overusing any water supply has an environmental impact.
Our Top tips… series of blogs is part of our Holme Improvements, year-long project, which is funded by an award from Postcode Local Trust, a grant-giving charity funded entirely by players of the People’s Postcode Lottery.
