Northern Ireland Department for Infrastructure publishes findings from householder water use survey
The Analysis, Statistics and Research Branch (ASRB) of the Department for Infrastructure (DfI), has published the findings from the 2023/24 Continuous Household Survey (CHS).
The report provides annual statistics on the use of water by individuals and households including use of showers, dishwashers, washing machines and hosepipes.
The CHS highlighted 55% of people in Northern Ireland shower six to 10 times per week and 48% of people shower for between two and five minutes each time they use the shower. 58% of people own a dishwasher and 16% use it every day. The report also shows 99% of people own a washing machine, with 22% saying they use it every day.
67% of respondents say they use a hosepipe or bucket to water plants, while 52% use them to wash their cars.
The CHS provides information for use by the Department to inform and further understand water use within the home.
The CHS is considered to be a representative sample of the population at household level - a total of 4,927 adults aged 16 and over were surveyed in 2023-24.
Following the report’s publication, NI Water has published a checklist reminder outlining tips on how save water and money in homes. The water company’s online ‘Get Water Fit’ water audit (https://www.getwaterfit.co.uk) suggests some water saving challenges you can take at home. NI Water is also offering customers free water saving items to help avoid using extra water, including shower timers and tooth brushing timers.
The water company is also suggesting to customers using a waterbutt in the garden to harvest rainwater and making full use of the washing machine and dishwasher. Ni Water points out that half load programmes use more than half the water and energy of a full load.
NI Water education officer Anna Killen said:
“When you start to think about how much water you are using each day – showering, cleaning dishes, washing our cars, watering our plants or tackling that mountain of washing - you start to realise just how important water is and the actual amount we use every single day.
“We might think that after what felt like a very wet summer this year that there is more water than enough to go around. But with climate change, everybody can play their part to protect the water resources we all rely on so that we all have enough to use when we need it most. And by conserving water you also help the planet in general by saving energy that is needed to clean the water.