ScienceWater Diary For the UK
This is a water use diary for one of our team members in the UK from when they woke up to when they went to sleep. We have estimated roughly how much water they used during the day using a BBC program.
Water Diary
8.10- I got out of bed to go to the toilet, flushed the toilet twice because some one had been during the night and forgot to flush it. Then I washed my hands as you do and went back to bed.
9.00- I got out of bed officially, went to the toilet a second time and only flushed it once. Then I washed my hands and went downstairs.
9.15- The kettle boiled with its content full enough to provide 5 people with a cup of tea. However, 2 people did not finish their drink and one of them fell asleep before they could even start it. The wasted tea was poured down the sink. The tea remaining in the tea pot was cold and therefore was also poured down the sink.
9.45- I had a really deep, really hot bath. Nice for me but not so nice for the environment (Oops) I was in the bath for about 1 hour and 30 minutes, re-filling the bath and re-heating the water as I went along. I also had a second cup of tea whilst I was in the bath. I then went to the toilet and flushed it, washing my hands afterwards.
11.15- I made myself a boiled egg and toast, and yet another cup of tea. Because I had consumed 3 cups of tea in just 2 hours and 15 minutes, I consequently needed the toilet rather alot, and thereofore went again completing the usual routine of flushing and washing my hands. After which, I ate my egg and toast and drank my tea, pouring the execess water that the egg boiled in down the sink. I then cleaned my teeth, ensuring that the tap was not running throughout.
12.00- I turned the dish washer on full blast so that it would be done in time for the tea party that my mother had organised. (That would mean more tea and consequently more toilet- going)
12.10- I boiled the kettle to make the tea for the 7 guests that had arrived. That concluded as 11 people including me, my Mother, my father, my sister and myself who would be drinking tea, so I needed to put alot of water in the kettle.
15.00- The guests required a second cup of tea, so I therefore refilled the kettle and boiled the water, pouring the old tea from the teapot down the sink. They also required some potatoes for dinner so I poured alot of water in a large saucepan to cater for the 11 people who wanted potatos. Once the potatos were all boiled and ready, I poured the water they had been boiled in down the sink. I then went to the toilet. I was followed by 4 other people who all flushed the toilet and assumingly washed their hands.
20.00- The guests left. I collected all of the cups, 5 of which still had tea in the and 2 of which were untouched. I poured the left over tea down the sink, and I loaded the cutlery into the dishwasher, turning it on half power.
22.00- I fill the sink with warm water and wash my face. I then pull the plug and clean my teeth, forgetting to turn the tap off after i rinse my brush, thus leaving it running for approxamatly 4 minutes. I then went to the toilet, flushed it and washed my hands. Then i poured a glass of water and went to bed.
Water Use
Using the BBC water program we estimated this water usage to be at approximatly 140 litres for the day. This is in stark contrast to our Thai slum family who have 120 litres to last them for a week!