BBC Nelson says baths are as socially unacceptable as Hummers

Sue Nelson at the
Bathroom Industry Conference

Award-winning science writer and BBC broadcaster, Sue Nelson slammed the use of baths and claimed it will be ‘as socially unacceptable to have a huge, deep bathtub as it is now to drive a Hummer’, at the recent Bathroom Industry Conference.

She told of a personal experiment she conducted which put how much water is used whilst showering and bathing into perspective. Nelson measured that a three and a half minute shower used 48-litres, whereas a bath used 130-litres. Therefore she believes baths are on their way out, as new regulations are aiming for a total of 120 litres, per person, per day. She said: “Water efficiency is the next big issue, and what will drive consumers to act is whether it is socially acceptable for them to be seen wasting water. Consumer perceptions towards water can be changed little by little.”

However, Nelson suggested that there are not enough incentives, nor are they visible enough for consumers to ‘go green’, and the green idea needs to be communicated within the media”. She even pointed out that the word ‘sustainability’ still hasn’t been included in the dictionary.

In fact she demanded that the bathroom industry take stock immediately: “Sustainability within the water industry can simply not be ignored any longer. The industry must take proactive steps to ensure that it is not left behind on this issue.”

She suggested that bathroom manufacturers make water-saving products a must-have for the home and how it could help retail sales. Nelson concluded: “The industry must step up and lead now. The opportunity for the industry is by making these products desirable, it will drive consumer spending - a positive outcome for the industry.”

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