On World Water Day (Saturday 22 March), attention turns to how individuals and organisations all around the globe can save water by reducing how much they use. Water is a hugely precious resource that we quite literally cannot live without. Residential care homes and other healthcare settings use a lot of water by their very nature. Hygiene is vitally important, as is making sure that older and vulnerable residents drink enough water and do not become dehydrated.
That said, there are still plenty of ways that a busy care home can look to reduce the amount of water they use without compromising on the standards of care they provide. Here are some ideas for saving water in different areas of the care home.
Kitchen and laundry
If you run a dishwasher, see if there is an eco-setting that uses less water. Wait until the dishwasher is fully loaded before turning it on to save water, rather than running it half-full several times over. The same goes for clothes washing machines. Fill it to the recommended load capacity to get the most efficient use out of it. Re-use water wherever possible, for example by pouring ‘grey’ water (recyclable wastewater eft over from light washing up, for example, or from cleaning fruit and veg) onto the plants in the garden instead of using fresh water in a watering can or hose for this purpose.
Stop filling the kettle to the brim each time you switch it on for a cuppa. Instead, only add enough water for the number of drinks you are making. Or install hot water dispenser that produces boiling water whenever you need it, straight into the cup or container you are using. If you are wanting cool water on a warm summer’s day, keep a bottle or two in the fridge so that you can pour some out straight away, rather than running the tap to wait for it to cool down first.
Bathroom
While you may not be able to switch some residents from having baths to showers for reasons of mobility or specific care needs, the fewer baths you need to run, the more water you will save. Showers typically use less water than baths, although power showers can still take up a lot of water. Consider switching your shower heads to low-flow or aerated versions to save water. Encourage residents and carers not to run the tap while they are brushing their teeth, instead only using water briefly to rinse the brush when required.
See whether you can change your toilet flushes to more efficient versions. Avoid flushing non-biodegradable items such as hygiene pads or cotton wool balls down the toilet, as this can block the sewers and cause water pollution. Get any leaks in the bathroom repaired quickly, as they can lead to a lot of wasted water if left unrepaired for too long.
Garden and grounds
In the garden, consider installing a water butt to collect rainwater for watering plants and cleaning tools. Only turn on sprinklers or water plants when the sun is not up, such as early morning or at dusk, so that less water is evaporated by the heat of the day. Choose drought-tolerant plants and add plenty of mulch to the soil to keep moisture in for longer.
Consider installing a drip irrigation system and look out for leaks in outdoor taps, hoses and sprinkler systems. Avoid overwatering the garden and adjust your routine with the seasons, so that you are only using more water in hotter, dryer condition, rather than all year round. This also prevents the garden from becoming waterlogged in wetter seasons, and spilled water freezing over in winter and causing a slip hazard. Attach a trigger nozzle to your hose to reduce water wastage even more. It is OK to let your lawn go brown in very hot weather – it will recover when the rain returns.