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It is sufficient to compare the number of litres: experts estimate that a five-minute shower consumes, in the best case scenario, a minimum of fifty litres of water. In order to fill a bath, however, four times the amount of water is required, some 200 litres. Even with a longer shower or one that has an above average volume of water, you will save water. On average, according to the environmental organisation Greenpeace, taking a shower instead of a bath represents a daily saving of 70 litres.

However, more can be done than swapping a bath for a shower. Environmental organisations and groups that study responsible consumer behaviour have been offering advice for years, so that our everyday washing habits are not a drain on the planet’s limited water resources. 

1. Five minutes are sufficient

The most common recommendation is to do with the time we spend under the water. As a general rule, five minutes is more than enough for a shower. In order to avoid temptation, some people recommend turning to music. Try connecting your music system in the bathroom (away from the water), select three of your favourite songs and calculate your actions so that, by the end of the last song, you have finished drying yourself and are wrapped up in your dressing gown.

2. Time-out in the shower

Soaping yourself, washing your hair, putting conditioner or a face mask on are tasks which do not require water. If you stopped leaving the tap on whilst you clean your teeth some time ago, why not do the same in the shower? Try it and you will see that you can save a few litres with a small gesture. What better time than the summer, before, using the excuse of the cold, you do not have the courage to turn off the tap! 

3. Use the surplus water

Before getting in the shower, we all wait a few seconds for the water to reach the right temperature. This surplus water need not be wasted: collect it in a bucket and use it towater plants or wash the dishes. You will be surprised by what you can do with the water produced in these few seconds.

4. The stopcock

Ecologists and consumers usually recommend closing the stopcock slightly in your property. This action, which will slightly reduce the volume of water that comes out of the taps, can be a further gesture towards sustainable consumption.

5. Ecological showers

The products available to facilitate our responsible consumption objectives has also reached the world of showers. There are various models of water volume reducers available, for example, which you can install in the shower hose. One of these is an aerator, which mixes air and water, giving the droplets a pearl shape. This can save between 40% and 60% in consumption, according to the water pressure. Furthermore, you can purchase all sorts of ‘ecological showers’. Some restrict the number of litres which are consumed in each use or reuse surplus water.

Related articles:

- Installing a shower set

- Showers and thermostats