A
few things to bear in mind
Water: a valuable good
Water is an expensive and valuable good. If you are not careful your
expenses might increase.
| Standard
water consumption |
Quantity
consumed (in litres) |
Hand-washing
dishes
|
10
to 20 |
| Dishwasher |
25
to 40 |
| Washing
machine |
70
to 120 |
|
Flushing the toilet |
6
to 12 |
| 4-5
minute shower |
60
to 80 |
| Bath |
150
to 200 |
| Car
washing |
200 |
Hot
water economics
Like electric heating, hot water production is very energy-consuming.
It makes up at least 15% of the annual overall energy consumption.
You should know that a household of 4 to 5 people consumes, on average,
from 150 to 200 litres of hot water every day.
Stop costly leaks
For an average rate of € 1,83/m3:
a
dripping faucet uses 4 litres/hour (35,000 litres/year), i.e. €
64/year.
a
dribbling faucet uses 16 litres/hour (140,000 litres/year), i.e.
€ 256/year.
a
leaky flushing system uses up to 25 litres/hour (219,000 litres/year),
i.e. € 400/year.
You find that one of the plumbing fixtures at
home is leaking:
You have a plumbing system contract
coverage...
You should immediately contact the service provider who is to perform
the repairs provided for in your contract and who will do the work
as soon as possible. All charges (time and material) are covered
under the plumbing system contract.
"Generally,
the plumbing system contract covers the flushing system, valves
and fittings, emptying devices, etc, and also:
regular checks to be performed by the relevant operator (once a
year or every two years),
occasional breakdown maintenance".
You do not have a contract covering the
plumbing system...
Do not hesitate to call your plumber. The repair expenses will always
be lower than the cost of extra water consumption due to leaks.
A few tips
|
|
Turn off your water meter when you are to leave home for a long
time and as soon as you find a leak. |
|
|
Protect
your water meter from freezing using a water-resistant material
(polystyrene for example…). |
|
|
Know
how to listen for leaks as they cannot always be seen. |
|
|
Close
the tap tightly after use (be sure the kids do as well!). |
|
|
If
you have doubts about your consumption level take a reading
of the meter before going to bed and again in the morning prior
to using any water. Pay special attention to your electric hot-water
heater safety valve and underground pipes. |
|
|
Follow-up
your water consumption by regularly reading your meter and using
the attached charts. This will help you to detect any over-consumption
or leak. |
|
French version
