25/05/2005 - Chelsea Flower
Show may inspire you to spend this weekend
nurturing your garden but spare a thought
for the amount of water you use. Despite April
showers and May downpours, the Environment
Agency is still concerned about low water
levels and is urging gardeners to think about
the environment before getting the sprinkler
out.
England and Wales have had a dry winter with
several months of below average rainfall –
water we depend on to top up our reservoirs
and groundwater for public water supply in
the summer months. Some parts of Southeast
England have had only 60% of long-term average
rainfall for November to mid-May.* The Environment
Agency is working closely with water companies
and other abstractors to make sure that water
supplies are managed carefully without damaging
the environment, but we can all do our bit
to help.
The average garden sprinkler uses 1,000 litres
of water an hour – more than a family of four
uses in a day. Yet water is a finite resource.
All the water we use is taken from rivers,
streams and groundwater. The more we use,
the more the water companies will need to
take, potentially leading to environmental
problems.
Using a watering can instead of a sprinkler
saves water, and using a water butt to collect
rain for garden watering saves even more.
If everybody used a water butt for garden
watering instead of main water supply, enough
water could be saved to supply 1/4 million
people.
If the dry weather continues, water companies
will be forced to impose restrictions, such
as sprinkler and hosepipe bans, to safeguard
water supplies for next summer. Saving water
at home and in the garden is important this
summer, to help reduce the need for compulsory
restrictions and limit damage to the environment.
Environment Agency Chief Executive Barbara
Young said: “The dry winter has made an impact
on our water levels and we are urging everyone
to use water wisely for the warm summer ahead
to help safeguard public water supplies in
the longer term. All of us can make a difference.
Water is a precious resource and we can all
do more to make sure we don’t waste it by
turning off taps when brushing teeth, taking
showers instead of baths, using a bucket to
wash the car or a watering can in the garden
instead of a hose. These small changes can
make a big difference.”
The RSPB supports the need to save water
in order to avoid damage to the environment
and important habitats for wildlife and plants.
It designed its Real Rubbish Garden, displayed
at the Chelsea Flower Show until 28 May, to
save water by collecting rain for watering
plants. The design was chosen after an RSPB
survey showed that only a third of interviewees
collect rain for watering the garden.
Bryan Bland, RSPB’s manager of the garden
at Chelsea said: ‘By saving water and ensuring
every drop counts, we are not only helping
wildlife in the garden but ensuring we don’t
have a damaging impact beyond our garden fence.’
It’s not just in the garden where we can
make a difference. Small lifestyle changes
in the home can help too. Turning off taps
when brushing teeth, taking showers instead
of baths and using a bucket to wash the car
can all help save water. The Environment Agency
is challenging people to save water next month
for World Environment Day on 5 June 2005.
Go to the Environment Agency's WED webpage
(see link) to make your pledge to save water
and find out how much you could save.
Log on to our website (see link) for Alan
Titchmarsh’s top tips on how to save water
in the garden and other tips on saving water
at home.
