Using Far Too Much Water 15 May 2019 at 10:26AM edited 30 November -1 at 1:00AM in Green & Ethical MoneySaving 9 replies 1.2K views

Terrysdelight

Hi

My shower runs off of my condenser boiler. The water comes out really quickly and I have started leaving the plug in the bath to see how much water I was using.

I used almost as much as if I was having a bath! I don't think I'm in the shower overly long. I do have a large shower head and the water comes out very fast.

Any ideas on what to do to reduce the speed/flow of water?

Many thanks
Terrysdelight

PasturesNew

1/ Time yourself so you know absolutely how long you are staying in there. it is common for somebody who showers for a long time to use more water than a bath, so find out how long you're in there for.

2/ Change the head?

Hexane

A shower with decent water pressure (or a power shower) can easily use as much water as a bath.


At least two of the major UK water companies offer packs that they will post to you for free to supposedly address this and other issues. The items related to showers in particular are, firstly a waterproof "shower timer" device that measures 4 minutes, and secondly a metal device that fits in the shower pipe and regulates water flow. The latter may not be compatible with some electric showers or power showers.


It claims the following:

• Regulated flow – ShowerSave regulates your shower to a dirt-busting 8 litres per minute, operating from as little as 0.2 bar pressure
• Sleek design – once fitted, you won’t even know it’s there.
• Easy to fit – Fits to any standard ½” shower hose by simply screwing into the base of your shower mixer unit. Takes just a couple of minutes – each device comes with a set of instructions.
• Not suitable for Electric Showers - or lower pressure systems or gravity fed systems with less than 0.5 bar pressure. If you are uncertain if this product is suitable we recommend you contact the manufacturer.

If you've already had a free one of the above, apparently some water companies will sell you additional ones for just under £5 each including postage and packing.


As regards the shower timer, it may not actually be particularly "green" for the water company to be producing this plastic device and shipping it to people, when ultimately people are going to shower until they feel clean regardless of a recommended 4 minute limit.

KevinG

There is absolutely no need to run the shower continuously while having a shower - I never do and it only goes on when I need the water to wet or rinse. There is no need to have it on while applying shower gel, shampoo and lathering, shaving, whatever. I am normally in the shower for 10 minutes and it's on for no more than 2 or 3 minutes of this.

DigForVictory

Try a Navy Shower? (Even us longhairs can manage.)

Eco & wallet friendly - just don't take it too far or you may be subject to a GI Shower...

Martyn1981

Terrysdelight wrote: »

Hi

My shower runs off of my condenser boiler. The water comes out really quickly and I have started leaving the plug in the bath to see how much water I was using.

I used almost as much as if I was having a bath! I don't think I'm in the shower overly long. I do have a large shower head and the water comes out very fast.

Any ideas on what to do to reduce the speed/flow of water?

Many thanks
Terrysdelight

Am I missing something? Can't you control the amount of flow, the same as controlling how wide you open the taps?

BTW, we have one of those shower heads that let air in, and it really works, feels like far more pressure, so you run less water.

mmmmikey

Hi - I have an Ecocamel shower head in the caravan and it works so well I got one for home as well. It limits the flow but mixes in air which makes it feel like the flow is still high - luxurious shower and much less flow. Widely available - just google ecocamel.

Mnd

According to our bill we use 164L a day, which seems a lot, that's for 2 of us.but then it says it 151L per person on average so we aren't doing so bad.

It's not the water used showering that bothers me it's the waste that you are waiting for the water to warm up from the combi. My wife refuses to use a bucket to save this, but we are trying to shower one after the other so the waste is reduced

mmmmikey

Mnd wrote: »

According to our bill we use 164L a day, which seems a lot, that's for 2 of us.but then it says it 151L per person on average so we aren't doing so bad.

I use about that on my own, but have never had a good benchmark to compare it with other than the 150litre average. My use will be higher due to medical needs, but I'd be interested to here how much others are using?

Ms_Chocaholic

Mnd wrote: »

According to our bill we use 164L a day, which seems a lot, that's for 2 of us.but then it says it 151L per person on average so we aren't doing so bad.

It's not the water used showering that bothers me it's the waste that you are waiting for the water to warm up from the combi. My wife refuses to use a bucket to save this, but we are trying to shower one after the other so the waste is reduced

Could you use the water you have saved by having the plug in the bath to flush the toilet.