Many UK adults don’t realise they are wasting water, poll reveals

It seems that with the pandemic people are using more water than ever

Several adults said thet would think nothing of leaving the water running when washing up by hand (Getty Images)

A poll has revealed that many UK adults pay no attention to the water they are wasting at home – with 16 per cent believing it is completely free.

A study of 2,000 adults found 47 per cent boil a full kettle when making a drink for one, leave the tap running when brushing teeth or run a half empty washing machine, without giving a second thought to consumption.

A few even believe there is ‘no such thing’ as water waste, as what they don’t use goes straight back into the system.

Several adults would think nothing of leaving the water running when washing up by hand, or having a long luxurious shower.

While more than one third will happily waste water by washing vegetables under a running tap, and 25 per cent will put on the dishwasher even if it isn’t full.

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Perhaps unsurprisingly, the majority of adults are now using more water and energy than ever before since the start of the pandemic.

Some do acknowledge they are probably using more of both than they need to.

Tina Simpson for Triton Showers, which commissioned the poll, said: “Water waste is easy to ignore – as it seems so accessible.

“But what is really shocking is the idea that a large percentage, as many as one in every six adults, don’t even seem to realise that they pay for water.

“And by not curbing excess water usage, their bills could actually increase.”

The poll found more than half of adults feel their consumption of tea and coffee at home has risen since the start of lockdown, but they’ll usually boil double the amount of water needed when making one cup.

On top of this, the dishwasher is running at least one more time a day than pre-pandemic, the washing machine is getting an extra cycle daily, and people are also washing up by hand once more than usual.

One quarter of adults have also been using the hose regularly to wash the car or clean the garden paths.

Some have even been turning up the temperature on the hot tub, to pass away the extra hours at home.

Most adults have also increased the number of times they wash their hands over the past 12 months.

Shaving, cooking and watering plants are among the other things Brits have been doing more of over the past year, according to the OnePoll data.

Tina Simpson for Triton Showers added: “It’s no surprise that the nation is spending more time carrying out day-to-day tasks, as many of us have been confined to our homes for much of the year.

“Although we may have started working from home on a temporary basis, it’s looking like flexible working could be here to stay, even as restrictions continue to ease.

“It’s therefore important that we take control of the behaviours that contribute to increasing energy and water usage, as it may become a long-lasting issue if people don’t start paying more attention now.

The top ways UK adults waste water

1. Filling the kettle with more water than you actually need

2. Leaving the water running while brushing teeth

3. Leaving the tap running when washing up by hand

4. Having long luxurious showers over four minutes

5. Using a full flush when a half flush would suffice

6. Running the washing machine when it isn’t full

7. Leaving the water running while washing fruit and vegetables

8. Filling the bath to the top/topping up with hot water

9. Leaving the tap running while shaving

10. Running the dishwasher when it isn’t full

11. Using a hose to wash the car

12. Using a hose to water the lawn or garden

13. Using a hose to wash the paths

14. Watering the garden on windy days

15. Setting the temperature high on the hot tub

SWNS