What’s the Solution?
- We need to promote the benefits of water efficiency to the public and to the commercial sector to create greater awareness of and appreciation for the need to save water both at home and at work.
- We need to promote more water efficient and innovative solutions.
- Business water bills will reduce if water efficient and recycling processes are put in place. Simple changes such as turning off taps, repairing leaks, using sprays or jets for washing, installing push button taps in staff washrooms that use up to half the water used by conventional taps will quickly achieve a noticeable reduction in water bills.
- Companies should be aware of the cost of production for both identified e.g. water charges, sewerage charges and effluent charges, and hidden water charges e.g. treatment of chemicals, effluent treatment.
- We have to dispel the myth that Scotland has sufficient water to meet our multiple and growing demands.
- We have to encourage people living and working in Scotland to change their values from just users, to responsible consumers, by adopting everyday changes that result in a more efficient use of natural resources.
- Reduction of water within households may include using water efficient fittings on appliances e.g. dual flush toilets, spray taps and shower heads as well as using appliances that use less water e.g. water efficient washing machines and dishwashers (ranked by Waterwise). Householders and businesses may harvest rainwater or make use of grey water e.g. flushing toilets.
- We must invest in water infrastructure that has a lower carbon footprint and reduce carbon embedded in supply chains.
- We need a domestic charging regime in Scotland that promotes and incentivises water efficiency; our current charging structure for water and sewerage charges is based on Council Tax banding rather than water use.