According to the report of the United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification (UNCCD), since 2000 the number and duration of droughts has increased by 29%, this problem is the cause of 15% of natural disasters, has resulted in a huge number of human casualties, about 650,000 deaths from 1970 to 2019, and global economic losses of about USD 124 billion from 1998 to 2017. Today, more than 2.3 billion people suffer from water scarcity and nearly 160 million children are exposed to severe and prolonged droughts. Extreme events related to the water cycle have steadily increased over the years, with the United States, Southern Europe, Chile, Brazil, Kenya, Somalia, Madagascar, and many other places experiencing unprecedented heat waves and droughts, while Germany, India, China, Malaysia, Sudan, and Australia have been subject to devastating floods.
These figures are only a reflection of what many of us are experiencing in our homes and communities: humanity is at a crossroads, it is a matter of 'managing the drought and reducing the problem as a matter of extreme urgency, using every possible tool' (UNCCD).
The solution is complicated, long-term and requires a serious and sustained effort by all: nations, public and private organisations and every single citizen to manage drought in a 'proactive' manner.
IDRAL is committed to contributing to the solution of the drought problem through the design and production of water-efficient products and the efficiency of all production. At IDRAL, saving water has always been a top priority. Given the importance and topicality of the issue, we would like to shareideas and tips for saving water at home and in public spaces, hotels, restaurants, offices, shopping centres, etc.
How to save water at home and in public places
Repairing leaks
One of the main causes of wastage is precisely this! A leaky tap can waste up to 40 litres of water per day, or almost 14,000 litres per year. Detecting and repairing leaks generates huge savings and choosing good quality taps reduces the risk of breakage and waste.
Use limited aerators
A limited aerator is a small device that, inserted at the end of the faucet spout, reduces the amount of water flowing by adding air to the jet without affecting the water pressure. It also regulates the water flow at the moment of opening, preventing splashing. Using a restricted aerator produces considerable savings: a family of three could save around 6,000 litres of water in a year! Idral's limited aerators reduce water flow to just 5.8 litres per minute, saving up to 50% water.
Low consumption taps and sanitary fixtures
Replacing traditional appliances with automatic, low-consumption taps and sanitary fixtures can SAVE 70% OF THE COST OF WATER AND ENERGY.
Idral electronic and timed taps provide 6 litres of water per minute or less, while the average flow rate of traditional taps is 12-16 litres per minute. The automatic shutoff eliminates the danger of letting water run unnecessarily, and the time required for hand washing drops from 60 to 25 seconds. All this translates into very significant savings. At Idral we have a wide range of flow limiters that are fitted in our taps further reducing consumption.
To learn more watch our video comparing traditional, timed and electronic taps.
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Pay attention to the toilet flush
Replacing a leaky toilet avoids the slow but steady flow of water and saves about 52,000 litres of water in a year. A trick to check if toilets are leaking is to put a drop of food colouring in the toilet tank. If after 10 minutes the toilet water is coloured, there is a leak and it is time to take action. Be sure to flush the tank immediately after the experiment to avoid staining it.
Low-flush toilets and electronic urinals
Replacing toilets with low-flush solutions further reduces unnecessary water use. In fact, normal toilet flush cisterns have a capacity of 12 litres, which are released with each flush, whereas our sanitary fixtures only use 5 litres of water. Another option is to use electronic urinals, which additionally provide the advantages of infrared control. Replacing toilets and urinals allows a reduction of at least 20% in water consumption with each flush.
Better showering
A shower requires about 20 litres of water, while a bath requires about 150 litres. The savings calculation is soon done! Moreover, Idral shower panels, thanks to the 15-second timed shut-off at 3 bar (reducible) and the 8 l/min flow limiter, further reduce water consumption.
Timed thermostatic taps
This solution is an excellent idea for reducing water and energy consumption in the shower, because in addition to automatically controlling the water shut-off, it mixes the water much faster, maintaining the set temperature regardless of external factors.
Reducing water waste in the kitchen
In addition to the best-known precautions such as only using the dishwasher when it is full or re-using the cooking water, we would like to suggest an original idea to reduce water consumption in professional kitchens: the use of foot-operated taps and pre-wash showers. Pedal taps save up to 44of water compared to traditional water consumption, thanks to greater flow control.
In the garden solar showers
For swimming pools and open air spaces, Idral's solar showers are equipped with timed taps, integrated with a solar water heating system, which produces hot water without any energy consumption.
Our common commitment is important when it comes to saving the world's most precious resource.