NEARLY HALF of all British adults leave the tap running while brushing their teeth, a study shows.
Research by the Finish and WWF partnership has revealed the water-wasting habits of Brits as experts warn of water shortages by 2050.
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A third of the 2,000 British adults polled admitted that they knowingly waste water.
A quarter said that they have showers for more than 10 muinutes every time while 29% of those polled confessed to “flushing the toilet unnecessarily”.
This comes as the UK’s Environmental Agency issues a dire warning about the future of British water supplies.
The average household uses 143 litres of water a day; a staggering 33 litres more than the government’s target of 110 litres a day.
The Environmental Agency has warned that if this trend continues, increased demand for water due to climate change could lead to water shortages by 2050.
The study also reveals the UK’s troubling lack of knowledge about the water supply. Only a third of 6-10-year-olds correctly identified reservoirs as a source of water, and 26% believed that water came from the sea.
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A quatre of the Brits who that the UK could never run out of water, believe this because of the UK’s “wet and rainy climate”.
Among the simple things you can do to save water, using the dishwasher rather than hand washing can save 6,800L of water a year.
Yet 36% of Brits actually believe that using the dishwasher uses more water than hand washing.
Conor Linstead, WWF spokesperson, said: “As the water we use at home in the UK either comes directly from natural freshwater habitats, or indirectly affects them, how we use it really matters.
“Many freshwater sources such as rivers, lakes and wetlands are already affected by unsustainable water use at home and the impact of climate change could put further strains on these habitats.”
Following the findings, the campaign has launched Water Heroes: The Journey of Water [https://bit.ly/3NzQBvD] – a story from children’s author Catherine Coe, which tells the tale of the Water Wizard as he takes three children on an adventure to discover the sources of freshwater.
Steph Lilley, general manager, UK&I, Reckitt said: “The Water Heroes story is designed to create a deeper understanding that the water in our taps has traveled hundreds of miles and supports precious UK wildlife.
“We hope that the story gives both children and their families a new way to learn about the importance of freshwater in our lives.”
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Primary school children were also taken on an educational walk around a constructed wetland in East Anglia, where the Finish and WWF partnership will be replenishing 500 million litres of water.
TV presenter and author Simon Reeve, who went on the walk, said: “It is important children know where water at home comes from and that we are all mindful of its use so we can help protect freshwater environments.”
Take this quiz to find out about your own water-use habits at home: [https://bit.ly/3aDHxXT].
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