A scheme aimed at lowering water usage in Mid-Suffolk is giving a community the opportunity to win up to £20,000 for local good causes – if they can work together with their water company to reduce their water use and help to lower the amount wasted in the area.
Customers within the northern area of Mid-Suffolk have been given the chance to secure the cash boost to help improve their local community. The more that they pull together to reduce the overall amount of water needed in the area, the more funding Essex & Suffolk Water will make available.
The incentive, which is running between now and until the end of August, is part of a scheme developed by Essex & Suffolk Water, and is targeting this part of the region as it is one of the driest communities in its operating area.
Over the past decade, changes in weather have led to longer spells of dry weather, causing even higher levels of water scarcity in the East of England.
The water company is urging everyone in this area to work together to use water wisely, check and report leaks at home and further afield, and consider having a water meter fitted so that the funding can be delivered to community projects of their choice.
Stef Chester, Customer Engagement Manager at Essex & Suffolk Water, said: “This is a fantastic opportunity for our customers in this region to gain funding for several community-based projects of their choice and I’d encourage everyone to nominate a project on our website and find more information about how to get involved.
“In order to make this work, everyone needs to pull together to make an impact and get to the water-saving target and ultimately be awarded the money.
“Although this is an incentive scheme, it is not just about the funding – we all need to change our habits in order to help protect our local environment for future generations.
“Suffolk is one of the driest regions in England, and as we look ahead to summer, we need to do all we can to conserve resources to keep the water flowing for everyone.”
The scheme is running for a year and started in August 2021. A measurement of water usage will be taken at the end of the scheme and will be compared to the previous year to determine if the usage in the area has decreased.
As part of the scheme, the water company will be doing a number of different things within the community - including water-saving visits and free leaky loo repairs.
They have also issued advice on how to save water.
Essex & Suffolk Water’s top water-saving tips include:
- Only use what you need. If you're cooking pasta or putting the kettle on…only filling the pan or the kettle with as much water as you need, rather than right to the top, will help you to save water AND cut down on electricity bills.
- Turn off the taps. Turn off the taps while you're brushing your teeth to save up to six litres of water a minute. Put the plug in your sink basin when washing or shaving and save up to 12 litres of water.
- Short flush. Around one-third of all water used in the home goes down the toilet. If you have a dual flush system, make sure you use the short flush (usually the smaller button) whenever possible or order a save-a-flush bag from www.eswater.co.uk/savewater. You should also check your toilet for leaks - a leaky loo can waste up to 215 litres of water a day!
- Take a shower. Having a bath can use as much as 80 litres of water. Taking a five minute shower instead can save around ten litres of water. Reduce your time in the shower by setting a timer on your phone and depending on the type of shower, you can save a further 18 litres of water!
- Wash a full load. Saving up your dirty clothes until your washing machine is full is better than doing two half loads. If you need to replace your washing machine, always try to buy one that has an A-rating for energy and water consumption.
- Use a dishwasher. Filling up a dishwasher until it's completely full each time will save more water than doing the dishes by hand, even if you're using a bowl. Similar to your washing machine, it's always best to look for A-rated appliances.
- Use a watering can. Out in the garden watering your plants? Make sure you use a watering can instead of a hose - a hose pipe can use up to 1000 litres of water an hour!
For more information on this scheme, or to nominate a project for funding, visit – www.eswater.co.uk/watersworthsavingsuffolk