In essence, waste water is any water that’s already been used for a purpose, or that’s been deployed to transport waste products. The most common examples of this are household items, like showers, toilets, washing machines, and even your kitchen sink.
While it might seem a simple definition, it’s crucial we understand what’s meant by water wastage. It not helps inform us how the water we use can have an effect on the world around us, but how we can bring about sustainable and impactful change.
It’s inevitable that there’ll be some form of waste water on a daily basis. Brushing your teeth, preparing food, and using the toilet all consume water in some capacity, and contribute towards the overall level of waste water that a household or business consumes.
Recent data from Statista estimates that the average UK resident consumes around 152 litres of water per day across everything they do, ranging from making a cup of tea to showering or bathing in the evening or morning.
There is some variation in this, however, which does provide an interesting insight into what can be changed about the average person’s water consumption. Customers who used a meter to measure their water consumption averaged 139 litres of water per day, compared to the average of 152 for those not metered.
Examining further statistics on water usage by appliance type helps us better understand the core concepts behind this lower consumption of water. Baths lead the way with an average water usage of 80 litres, while a typical washing machine uses upwards of 50 litres per cycle.
Comparatively, an electric shower uses 5 litres per minute, and running a dishwasher on its eco setting uses 10 litres, or 14 litres when not using that setting. Even with these water-saving options, waste water is totally unavoidable.
However, by limiting our water usage, we’re able to better prevent against the devastating effects that excessive water consumption can have on our delicate ecosystem, our environment, and the planet we live on. Let’s break down a few of those key impacts.