Consumer Council for Water Wales promotes water efficiency and savings at the National Eisteddfod in Ebbw Vale

The Consumer Council for Water Wales will be sharing a stand at this year’s National Eisteddfod in Ebbw Vale with the two other Wales leading consumer organisations Consumer Focus Wales and Consumer Direct.

Representatives of the Consumer Council for Water will be at the National Eisteddfod on 2nd, 5th & 6th August to give consumers tips on ways they can use water wisely, which could in turn help them save not only water, but energy and money as well.

The Consumer Council for Water Wales Committee is the statutory watchdog for water and sewerage customers of Dŵr Cymru Welsh Water and Dee Valley Water. Consumer Council for Water staff and members of the Wales Committee will be on hand to quiz people about their water efficiency knowledge and give advice about how they can save money on water bills.  Anyone completing the quiz will be given a voucher for a free water efficiency pack from Dŵr Cymru Welsh Water, which can be picked up from the company’s stand at the National Eisteddfod.

The Consumer Council for Water Team will also be available to explain how the organisation can help customers for example, should they have a complaint about their water and sewerage services or need further advice.

Diane McCrea, Chair of the Wales Committee of the Consumer Council for Water, said:

Water and sewerage customers might not always know where to turn if they have questions about their services, or feel as though the service they receive isn’t up to scratch. We are here to directly help customers and to take up complaints on their behalf, and we represent consumers’ views in the major strategic decisions that water companies in Wales make especially on the prices and services consumers get for their money. Furthermore, we want to make sure customers are getting good value for money. Helping consumers to be more water wise at home has got to be good for their water bills, and the environment. It might even mean lower energy bills as heating water makes up a large proportion of energy use in the home. Taking five minutes to consider some of the Consumer Council for Water Wales water saving tips could pay off in the long run and have the added benefit of helping to reduce your carbon footprint. Come and meet us at the National Eisteddfod to find out more about what we can do for you and how you could become more water efficient.

The Consumer Council for Water Wales – top water saving tips:

• Replace worn washers on leaky taps. A dripping hot water tap wastes energy and over a year could unnecessarily add over £18 to your annual water bill.
• Take showers rather than baths, or if you usually shower try shortening it. For every minute cut off your daily shower you could save between £5 and £10 off your energy bills over the year, or go one step further and install a water saving shower head, which can cut the amount of water used by about 30 per cent.
• When putting the kettle on to boil, only fill it with as much water as necessary. Two-thirds of us waste energy by boiling more water than we need.
• Make sure that the dishwasher or washing machine is completely full before turning it on, and avoid using the half load setting. Half-load cycles use much more than half the energy and water of a full load.
• Washing machines use huge amounts of energy, 90 per cent of which is through heating water. By reducing the temperature from 40 to 30 degrees, energy consumption will be reduced by 40 per cent.
• Around a third of the water we use goes straight down the loo, so using a water displacement device, such as a hippo, can help save water with every flush. These are available for free from most sewerage companies. Or, for an easy, do it yourself option, fill an empty plastic bottle with water and place it in the cistern.
• Take advantage of wet weather by installing a water butt, which collects rain water from a down pipe running from the roof, shed or greenhouse, and use the collected rainwater for gardening and washing the car, instead of paying to use drinking quality water through a hosepipe.
• The hot water cylinder thermostat should be set at 60°C or 140°F. Any higher uses energy unnecessarily and could lead to scalding.
• Insulate the hot water cistern to avoid using extra energy to keep it hot. Fitting a jacket that is at least 75mm thick could save around £35 each year