New data has revealed the water literacy of New Zealand, with GenZ as the worst offenders with value and behaviour mismatch.
A recent research report by Finish has found that while Kiwis place water conservation as a high priority, we’re not walking the talk when it comes to our use of the precious resource, with 28 percent admitting they have ‘no idea’ how much water they use.
Surprisingly Gen Z, widely believed to be an eco-conscious generation, are the biggest culprits in terms of mismatched values and behaviours, with 21 percent of Gen Z surveyed agreeing they are not concerned about how much water they use and 36 percent claiming they like to have long showers at the end of the day.
More than half (51 percent) of Gen Z surveyed said they shower for 10 mins or more. Concerningly, one in seven (15 percent) Gen Zers surveyed agree we should be enjoying our lives now and not worrying about New Zealand’s water supply in the future.
“Understanding our water use and where water comes from is the first step in the journey towards valuing water and using it wisely," said The Water Conservancy CEO Chris Philpot.
“This research is fascinating as it reflects what we’ve found across the Tasman in Australia. Everyone can play their part in conserving water by making small, easy changes to their behaviour and choosing water-efficient products.”
The initial research study was conducted in 2022, canvassing more than 1,000 New Zealanders. It was repeated a year later, following the devastating effects of Cyclone Gabriel, and broadened to include eight to 17 year olds. Interestingly, eight to 17 year olds were the least likely of the age groups surveyed to associate water with terms such as ‘limited’, ‘drinkable’, ‘natural’ and ‘domesticated/suitable for humans to drink.’
A comparison in the findings shows a year-on-year increase in New Zealander’s water usage, with ten percent more 25 to 34-year-olds leaving sprinklers running to water their garden and a huge 15 percent more 35 to 49-year-olds leaving the hose running when washing their cars. This trend may reflect the higher cost of living, leading more people to engage in activities at home, such as installing home vegetable gardens.
While the majority of New Zealanders (60 percent) agree we need to protect our water now to be more resilient to climate change in the future, the findings reveal further education may be required to break current consumption habits.
Despite 32 percent of respondents boasting better water habits than their neighbours, it appears that a concerning number of Kiwi may not be following the ‘tap off’ guidance, leaving water running as they carry out household tasks, including leaving the tap on while hand washing dishes (65 percent), leaving the tap on while brushing teeth (61 percent), leaving the tap on while pre-rinsing dishes before stacking them in the dishwasher (61 percent), leaving the sprinkler on to water the garden (42 percent), leaving the tap or hose on while washing the car (44 percent).
“Here in Aotearoa, New Zealand, Kiwis use nearly five times the amount of water required to cover basic needs. It’s clear from this Finish research that there is still some room to improve when it comes to water conservation. For example, skipping the pre-rinse before stacking the dishwasher could save you up to 40 litres of water per load,” said Finish spokesperson Dan Amza.
In response to the findings and supporting Finish’s drive to help encourage Kiwis to practice smarter water habits, Finish has launched its own Water Literacy Challenge in schools across New Zealand. Through the programme, 15,000 Kiwi kids across the country will have the chance to participate in challenges that encourage smarter water use, and five schools to complete the most water saving tasks will receive a water tank for their orchard or garden – thanks to Finish – to further continue their smart water habits.
To view the full research report and learn more about Finish’s efforts to help reduce water waste, click here.
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