As rivers run dry and suppliers warn of cutbacks, losses in the water supply network reach absurd proportions. The National Energy Efficiency Portal has published concrete tips on how households can save thousands of liters of water annually.
Climate change has become painfully evident to everyone this summer: temperatures across Europe are hitting record highs, rainfall is becoming scarcer, and water levels in major rivers are dropping to unprecedented lows. The consequences are dramatic-power plants are shutting down, river traffic is halted, and most importantly, drinking water is running out. Many suppliers across Europe, including those in Croatia, are already urging citizens to be frugal and warning of potential shortages, with some regions announcing half-day supply cuts.
Despite looming droughts, awareness of the importance of water conservation in Croatia is alarmingly low. Instead of restricting pool construction, the state has even incentivized it with financial subsidies, leading to an explosion of "poolization," particularly in Dalmatia. Filling these pools with drinking water places enormous pressure on the water supply system.
However, the key issue lies in decades of neglected infrastructure. The water supply network in Croatia suffers incredible losses-more than half, and in some areas up to 70% or more, of the water leaks into the environment due to lack of maintenance, faulty pipes, and valves. Adding to the burden are "water thieves" who steal water from the system with impunity.
According to data from the National Energy Efficiency Portal, water consumption has increased eightfold on average over the last 100 years. The largest share, a whopping 69%, goes to agriculture, followed by industry at 21%, while households consume 10% of water. Meanwhile, supply systems lose up to 40% of water. The average daily consumption per person in Europe, according to UNESCO calculations, ranges between 300 and 600 liters, while in Croatia, the average consumption is about 120 cubic meters per capita, or 150 liters per person per day.
"By saving through preventing drips, leaks, and irrational water use, you can save about 30 liters per person per day," says the National Energy Efficiency Portal.
Several simple habit changes can lead to significant savings. Turning off the water while washing hands or brushing teeth can save up to 5 liters of water per person daily. Showering instead of bathing in a tub uses up to 50% less energy and water. Installing aerators on faucets, costing around 7.3 kuna, yields annual savings of approximately 9,300 liters of water per person per sink.
Replacing old washing machines also pays off-modern appliances use 35-50% less water. While an average 6 kg washer uses 55 liters per cycle (8.8 l/kg), the most efficient 8 kg models with an efficiency of 6.14 l/kg consume only 43 liters.
Replacing a standard toilet with a dual-flush model reduces consumption from 9 to 6 liters per flush. "If we track consumption over three months, a standard toilet that releases 9 liters per flush, on average 10 times a day over 90 days, will consume 8,100 liters of drinking water..." notes the National Energy Efficiency Portal. A simple trick of placing a 1.5 or 2-liter plastic bottle in the toilet tank saves that amount with each fill.
Installing a special shower head with aeration also brings significant savings. With a flow rate of 7 liters per minute and reducing shower time from 9 to 7 minutes, annual water savings amount to about 41,000 liters. Although the shower head costs around 400 kuna, the annual financial saving is 530 kuna, and over a five-year lifespan, total savings reach 2,645 kuna.
Even seemingly minor leaks should not be overlooked. A faucet dripping at a rate of one drop per second loses 16.5 liters of water daily, which amounts to about 6,000 liters annually. A pipe leaking one drop per minute wastes nearly 200 liters per year. Washing a car uses approximately 200 liters of drinking water, so using rainwater is recommended. Even a 1 mm layer of limescale on a heat exchanger or boiler reduces appliance efficiency by 10%.
Installing a pressure regulator can reduce consumption by 5 to 15%, while sensor faucets save up to 50%. Using a shower head with a weaker spray can save up to 75% of water compared to a regular shower. All these measures, along with rational behaviors like showering with a partner or using a basin for shaving, are steps that require no great sacrifices but can significantly relieve both the household budget and the already overburdened water supply system.
