At a time when France is succumbing to a wave of "
historic
" drought and 62 of its departments are placed on high alert, all efforts are welcome to limit its water consumption.
So what are these famous “
useful
” gestures that can allow us to save a resource that is more precious than ever?
Read alsoDrought: is there a risk of a large-scale lack of drinking water in the coming weeks?
Detect and repair leaks
"
It's the gesture we think about the least, and yet...leaks are a real scourge
," says Nathalie Davoisne, head of external relations at CIeau (Water Information Center).
And for good reason, many holidaymakers do not turn off the water in their homes before leaving.
An oversight that can be very expensive and lead to a huge waste of water.
“
A leaky toilet flush is 1,000 liters lost,
” explains the CIeau member.
Owners and tenants have now been notified.
Take a shower instead of a bath
It seems obvious, but it is always good to remember that taking a shower means dividing your water consumption by three compared to bathing.
The most determined will go even further, recommending a morning wee in the shower to save money on flushing.
Use an economical shower head (or a thermostatic mixer)
“
Shower heads are very useful, they allow you to regulate the amount of water flowing
properly,” says Nathalie Davoisne.
Because in times of drought, you have to keep in mind that "
every drop counts
", insists CIeau.
A thermostatic mixer is also very effective since it allows a person who enters his shower not to waste time looking for the right water temperature.
Read alsoHow to store water to cope with the next droughts?
Avoid letting water run unnecessarily
We have probably often told you this, but it is best not to let the tap water run while brushing your teeth.
This simple gesture makes it possible
to “save up to 24 liters of water per day
” confirms the head of external relations at the water information centre.
Switch to xeriscaping
Does this term mean anything to you?
However, it is a type of arrangement that allows you to do gardening... without water.
To do this, you have to promote local species that consume little water for your garden.
Xeriscaping can help reduce water consumption by 25 to 100%.
If the rain ends up falling, you can of course collect the water for watering.
But be careful, it is not recommended to use it to wash the floors of the house.
According to Nathalie Davoisne, this "
false good idea
" would not be "
without risks
" since it "
the water
is not treated, and it may have previously been confronted with external pollution
".
On good terms!