Lanes backs water magazine in wishing stars would turn off while brushing

Lanes Utilities is backing a water magazine which this month highlighted how pop star Harry Styles missed a chance to help save a precious resource rather than waste it – by letting it run down the plug hole.

In the video for his band One Direction’s latest single, the singer is seen cleaning his teeth at the sink, with the water tap continuously gushing water.

Will Parsons, Managing Editor of Water and Wastewater Treatment Magazine, pointed out that Harry was demonstrating how to waste 12 litres of water, based on a teeth cleaning time of two minutes.

He calculated that, using a reasonable assessment of Harry’s fan base, and multiple views of the video, he could encourage the saving of 10 million litres of water, enough to supply the city of Belfast for a day, by turning the tap off while he brushed.

Harry would be a great role model he added: “Water reduction might just boil down to getting the right person to say the right thing.”

Lanes Group Technical Director Andy Brierley backed Will’s take on saving water. He said: “Water poured down the sink for no good reason goes back into the water treatment system and creates additional cost for water companies, which increases customer bills.

“It increased maintenance and repair costs, and leads to more water being taken from bore holes, putting additional pressure on ground water. It would be churlish to admonish Harry Styles for doing what millions of others do. But setting a good example would be very helpful.”