Encourage sustainable water use

Current water use is often not sustainable. Around 7% of the water used in our homes is used for cooking and drinking. Almost one third of the water we use is flushed down the toilet.

Photo by Meemal

How we use water has large environmental and economic costs with high levels of energy required to treat potable water, much of which is used for non-potable purposes, and wastewater. Heating water also accounts for a third of domestic energy consumption so reducing the amount of water we use will help reduce carbon emissions.

Storm water, which is capable of reducing the need for treated water, is managed in a wasteful way. Water abstraction from rivers can reduce the flows to below a level that can maintain healthy wildlife with an associated high aesthetic cost. At the same time not capturing storm water on site leads to downstream flooding and increases pollution loads to the streams and rivers.

Local authorities can play a pivotal role in encouraging sustainable water use, for example in its own estate, including buildings and open space management, through encouraging changing behaviour amongst businesses and residents and as active management partners working with statutory bodies and the private sector.