B4.1 Impacts Relating to Water continued…
We use about 100,000 litres of water in our homes each year:
- A bath uses about 80 litres of water.
- Washing machines use an average of 100 litres a cycle.
- Watering the garden with a sprinkler uses 1,000 litres an hour.
River Quality
The quality of water is a key indicator of how we look after our environment. Poor water quality can have a negative impact on human health, biodiversity and the recreational value and usage of watercourses. River Quality has significantly improved since 1990, as demonstrated by the graphs below:
Source: DEFRA, River Water Quality Indicator For Sustainable Development – 2009 Annual Results, September 2009
In England:
- 73 per cent of the English rivers surveyed were of good biological quality in 2009. This is a slight increase on 72 per cent in 2008, although there has been little change in recent years.
- 80 per cent of English rivers were of good chemical quality, an increase from 79 per cent in 2008, and the fifth consecutive year of increase.
In Wales:
- Biological quality of the surveyed sites is largely unchanged, with a slight decrease from 88 per cent in 2008 to 87 per cent in 2009. There has been little change since 2007.
- 95 per cent of river length was of good chemical quality in 2009, and has maintained this level since 2005.
Source: DEFRA, River Water Quality Indicator For Sustainable Development – 2009 Annual Results, September 2009
According to the European Environment Agency more than half of the EU’s surface waters are below “good” status.
