Galway has been branded a county of water guzzlers after a survey found that more than 95 per cent of respondents have no idea how much water they use and admit to leaving taps and showers running.
According to the national research conducted by Ideal Standard International, a leading provider of innovative and design-driven bathroom solutions, Galway people unwittingly waste excessive amounts of water doing everyday tasks, especially in the bathroom. Galway people are now being urged to reduce water consumption.
The survey, which took place in February of this year following World Water Day, found that 50 per cent of those surveyed in Galway use in excess of 189 litres a day on showering, brushing their teeth, and flushing the toilet alone. Almost all respondents, 90 per cent, take 10 minutes or longer in the shower each day, with over 90 per cent letting the water run for an average of three to four minutes before getting in. Taking into account that showers use a minimum of nine litres of water per minute the survey revealed that more than 95 per cent of respondents use at least 117 litres of water per day when they use the shower just once a day. The survey found that 50 per cent of Galway people flush the toilet six or seven times a day, using on average 48 litres of water per day. Nearly all respondents, some 95 per cent, admitted to leaving taps running while brushing their teeth, wasting six litres of water per minute which is 24 litres per day.
Gerard Walsh, managing director of Ideal Standard said: “We have researched Galway bathroom water usage to make people aware of the amount of water that is unnecessarily wasted in their bathroom each day. We have found that 80 per cent of Galway people are interested in reducing the amount of water they use, while an encouraging 70 per cent said they are willing to spend money on water saving products.
“Water is a precious commodity and there are a number of simple steps that people can take to reduce their water usage, from reducing the amount of time spent showering, to reducing the flow from taps, or turning taps off when not in use, and where possible, replacing old toilets with more water efficient alternatives.”
