Useful resources for getting started with Water Conservation.
Learn
Water & climate change
These resources will help you learn about water and the natural world, and the growing effects of climate change.
(Note: Child’s Play is not responsible for any content on third-party websites)
Water cycle: https://www.natgeokids.com/uk/discover/science/nature/water-cycle/
Oceans: https://www.nhm.ac.uk/discover/oceans.html
Climate change: https://www.wwf.org.uk/what-we-do/climate-change-and-energy
Our water needs: https://environmentagency.blog.gov.uk/2024/03/21/meeting-our-water-needs-for-the-next-25-years/
How waterwise are you? (interactive game): https://flow-zone.co.uk/water-use/
How much water do you use?
Being aware of how much water we use throughout the day can help us to conserve water in the places we use it most.
Water at home
Did you know that the average person uses approximately 145 litres* of water per day? Many of our household activities and appliances use more water than we realise.
- A full bath uses 80 litres of water
- An average washing machine uses 50 litres of water per cycle
- Washing dishes under a running tap can use up to 6 litres of water per minute, while using a bowl only uses around 8 litres of water in total
- Using a hose pipe to wash a car uses 250 litres of water, compared to just 30 litres for a bucket and sponge!
Read more about water usage here: https://www.ccw.org.uk/save-money-and-water/averagewateruse/
Water footprints
A water footprint is a measurement of how much water is needed to produce things we use and consume. This includes our clothes, food, and technology.
- On average, it takes 125 litres of water to grow a single apple – and around 230 litres to produce just 200ml of apple juice
- A 100g bar of chocolate takes around 1700 litres of water to make
- It takes 7,250 litres of water to make just one pair of jeans
- A pair of socks uses 375 litres of water to produce!
You can learn more about water footprints at https://www.waterfootprint.org/
*= all figures are approximate.
Sources:
https://www.theguardian.com/sustainable-business/gallery/how-much-water-to-make-food-drink
https://sustainabilitymag.com/supply-chain-sustainability/how-much-water-do-you-wear-asks-gap
Activities
How to save water
Here are some easy things you can do to save water every day.
- Keep the tap off while brushing your teeth
- Make sure your turn off taps tightly after using them
- Take showers instead of baths, and try to take shorter showers – use a stopwatch and time how fast you can be!
- Become a leak detective! Check your taps and toilets for leaks regularly and repair them as soon as you can
- https://database.waterwise.org.uk/wp-content/uploads/2020/04/Kids-leak-detective-hand-out.pdf
- Flush only bodily waste and toilet paper – wet wipes and cotton wool should always be put in the bin
- Only fill the kettle with the water you need
- Instead of waiting for the tap to run cold, keep a large bottle of tap water in the fridge to make cool drinks. This can save 10 litres of water a day!
- Wash fruit and vegetables in a bowl rather than under a running tap, and use the excess water to water the plants
- Save the water used to boil rice or pasta and use it to water the garden or houseplants. The water will contain nutrients that the plants will love!
- Get a water butt to collect rainwater in the garden and use it to fill watering cans to
- Use a broom instead of a hose to clean patios, paths and driveways
- Try to buy clothes second-hand where possible
- Repair and repurpose clothes, rather than replacing them with new ones
- Organise a clothes swap with friends, family, or your local community. This is a great way to update your wardrobe while reducing your water footprint, and also helps to keep clothes out of landfill
Rain gardens
Planting a rain garden, no matter the size, is a great way of using rain water while making a colourful space for wildlife.
https://www.rhs.org.uk/garden-features/rain-gardens
Further tips for saving water:
https://www.waterwise.org.uk/save-water/
https://www.water.org.uk/water-supply/saving-water
https://www.wildlifetrusts.org/actions/how-conserve-water
https://www.charitywater.org/uk/get-involved/kids
https://www.eco-stylist.com/10-easy-ways-to-repair-or-repurpose-old-worn-out-clothes/
Fundraising
World Water Day is held every year on 22nd March, and celebrates the importance of water while raising awareness of the billions of people living without access to safe water. This is a great opportunity to fundraise with your school, with your family, or by yourself!
Fundraising ideas
- Do a sponsored swim in your local swimming pool
- Organise a cake sale with water or beach-themed treats
- Ask your school to hold a water-themed non-uniform day. You could wear blue, or dress up as an underwater creature – get creative!
- Take part in a beach clean-up
- Hold a sponsored read-a-thon. Here are some of our water-themed books to get you started:
- Rosa Explores the Water Cycle
- Life on the River Thames
- Bea by the Sea
- I See the Sea
Donating
If you decide to hold a fundraiser and aren’t sure where to donate, you may be inspired by the charities below which all aim to provide safe drinking water and sanitation across the globe. Try to find local water and environmental charities near you, too!
Water for Kids https://www.waterforkids.org.uk/
UNICEF https://www.unicef.org.uk/what-we-do/water-and-sanitation/
WaterAid https://www.wateraid.org/uk/
OneDrop https://www.onedrop.org/en/
Charity:Water https://www.charitywater.org/uk
Surfers Against Sewage https://www.sas.org.uk/plastic-pollution/million-mile-clean/
Oxfam https://www.oxfam.org.uk/oxfam-in-action/water-for-all/