| Water is a precious commodity that we all
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| | supply and even in the paper you use.
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| need and use in a number of different
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| | Shockingly, one sheet of A4 paper has
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| ways on a daily basis. In fact, according
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| | around 10 litres of water embedded within
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| to Waterwise, a non governmental
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| | it.
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| organisation and a leading authority on
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| | If we all take note of how much water we
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| water efficiency, here in the UK each and
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| | are actually using and make a bit more
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| every one of us uses approximately 150
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| | effort to reduce that amount and minimise
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| litres of tap water every single day,
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| | wasting water, collectively we could make
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| which amounts to an awful lot of water.
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| | a significant difference to ourselves and
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| However, if we include embedded water
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| | the planet.
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| too, then this figure rises to a
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| | How to reduce the amount of water you use
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| staggering 3400 litres.
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| | - Make sure that any leaking or dripping
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| The problem we all face is that water is
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| | taps are fixed straight away. A dripping
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| an essential part of life and as such, we
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| | tap can waste around 5500 litres of water
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| must all endeavour to safeguard the
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| | over the period of one year
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| quality of our water both now and in the
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| | - Try to take a shower rather than a
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| future. Pollution is a global problem
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| | bath; a shower uses a lot less water
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| that affects us at a local level so what
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| | - Don't keep the tap running constantly
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| are governments doing about it and how
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| | when you are washing dishes or carrying
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| can we help?
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| | out toileting routines, get into the
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| The Water Framework Directive
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| | habit of turning the tap off when you
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| The Water Framework Directive came into
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| | don't need it
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| force in December 2000 and it states that
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| | - Water your garden in the evening or
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| by the year 2015, we must restore our
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| | early morning when less water is likely
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| waters to good health. Waterwise, along
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| | to evaporate, avoid using sprinklers
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| with nine other non governmental
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| | - A lot of the water that we use in the
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| organisations have launched a "Blueprint
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| | home doesn't need to be as pure as
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| for water", that basically outlines a ten
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| | drinking water, for example the water we
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| point plan to meet the objectives by the
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| | use for plants, in the garden and for
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| year 2015.
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| | flushing the toilet. Invest in a water
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| The steps involved include wasting less
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| | butt to catch rain water and use this in
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| water, addressing damage to our rivers
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| | the garden and for your plants
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| and wetlands, reducing pollution and
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| | - Set your printer to print on both sides
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| making sure that water stays clean, is
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| | of the paper and make sure you recycle
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| priced fairly and that those who pollute
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| | any waste paper and avoid the temptation
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| the water, pay penalties.
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| | to throw it out along with household
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| What can we do at home?
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| | rubbish
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| There are other steps we can take at home
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| | - Consider investing in new water
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| too. Most of us are now very familiar
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| | efficient appliances in the home, a dish
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| with the concept of recycling in general.
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| | washer for example, uses a lot less water
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| Nearly all local authorities have kerb
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| | than hand washing the dishes, you can
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| collections in place for at least two
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| | also buy low flush toilets and energy
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| different types of waste material and we
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| | efficient taps
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| are all encouraged to be more
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| | - Put a hippo into your toilet cistern to
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| environmentally aware by reducing the
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| | reduce the amount of water being flushed
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| amount of waste we produce in the first
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| | down the toilet and don't flush the
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| place, re-using what waste we can and
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| | toilet unnecessarily. Collect other
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| recycling the rest. Water is no different
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| | water you have used and flush the toilet
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| but unfortunately many still take it for
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| | with that
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| granted. The truth is, we are already
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| | - Don't put half loads of washing into
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| experiencing water shortages in the UK,
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| | your washing machine, wait for a full
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| and if we don't take action now then the
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| | load
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| situation could become a lot worse in
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| | - Keep cold water in the fridge,
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| years to come.
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| | particularly during hot weather so that
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| So let's look at the different ways we
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| | if you want to drink some cold water, you
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| use water. In the home we use water for
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| | don't have to run the tap waiting for the
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| drinking, bathing, washing the dishes and
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| | water to get colder
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| clothes, flushing the toilet, cooking and
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| | Conclusion
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| cleaning and outside of the home we use
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| | A little bit of effort goes a long way.
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| it to water the garden and wash our cars,
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| | If we all spared a moment to think about
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| hose down our streets and so on.
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| | what would happen if we didn't have a
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| However, water is also used in other
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| | constant supply of clean running water,
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| ways; for example, it is embedded in
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| | we might think twice before turning on
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| foods, drinks, your car, your electricity
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| | the tap.
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