Repsol YPF

 In Spain, the average daily consumption per person is around 170 litres. 80% of fresh water is allocated to agriculture, the remaining 20% is used in almost equal measures in industrial processes and homes. It is not that difficult to economise in the consumption of this resource which is so necessary for life. However, the effort must also be directed towards reducing the pollutant load of sewage. Analysing the volume consumedThe first thing to do is to ascertain the volume of water consumed in the home in order to know where most water is wasted and limit the consumption accordingly. It is possible to do it without sacrificing comfort. It is about consuming water consciously for each activity that requires it. When you turn on the tap the volume which comes out can be close to 10 litres per minute. It is sensible to turn it off when the liquid coming out is not required. It is also important to remember that a dripping tap can waste up to 50 litres of water per day; a leaking cistern can waste over 200 litres per day. In order to know how many litres per minute flow through a tap a simple measurement must be made. You just need a bucket with volume marks or any other recipient with a specific known volume. Then you just need to place it under a tap which is fully on and fill it, watching the time it takes in order to make a rough calculation. Introduce practical measuresIn general, the bathroom is where more than 60% of water is consumed in the house. Consumption is split equally between washing and flushing the lavatory. The rest of the water bill relates to the kitchen, the laundry, cleaning and watering the plants on the balconies. If you have a garden the percentages will differ substantially depending on the watering. Once you know the approximate consumption of each household task requiring water, you must introduce practical measures in order to gradually reduce the amount used until you reach a more reasonable level of consumption. It will not be necessary to compromise the residents quality of life but the use of certain devices and a change of habits will be required: - Keeping the general stopcock partially closed saves an enormous amount of water per day and the difference is barely noticeable. - You can buy rings called economisers, aerators or flow restrictors which adjust to fit the taps and limit the volume without making any noticeable difference. You can reduce the consumption of a sink by up to half, for example. - The new cisterns not only have a dual flush but they also have a mechanism to interrupt the flushing before it finishes. A homemade solution involves placing a full bottle of water inside old tanks in order to reduce their capacity and cause them to require less flushing. - Turn off the tap whenever the water is not required. It is more efficient to rinse your mouth by drinking from a glass after cleaning your teeth, for example. - Check the taps regularly and repair dripping taps, showers and cisterns. If you are going to replace them it is better to go for mixer taps because they can reduce the monthly expenditure considerably. - Choose a shower over a bath and keep the tap switched off whilst you wash. There are also pressure reducers for showers. - Do not use the toilet as if it were a dustbin. - Programme the washing machine and dishwasher when they are full using the appropriate cycle. Washing up and handwashing use 40% more water. - It is best to water plants early in the morning or at dusk using automatic drip irrigation systems, as well as growing local plants which are used to the climate and resistant to the drought.