How to save water... and money!

Category: Utilities
Author: Tim Leonard
Updated: 14/06/2018

In the UK we take a plentiful supply of water for granted. But, as past hosepipe bans attest, we can't always rely on an unlimited supply.

Using less water can also reduce your bill, so reducing your usage can be wallet-friendly as well as being good for the environment.

1. A running tap can use six litres of water per minute.
2. A power shower can use more water than taking a bath.
3. Try turning the shower off while you soap up, and turning it on again to rinse off. A shower can use 10 litres of water per minute.
4. Flushing the toilet less will obviously save water, but you could also try a 'save-a-flush' or 'hippo' in your cistern; these gadgets reduce the amount of water used to fill the cistern.
5. Only put the amount of water in your kettle that you need. Similarly, when cooking, think about how much water is in the pan – do you need to use that much?
6. Put a jug of water in your fridge. This way you won't be running the tap while you wait for it to get cold.
7. Washing a full load in a dishwasher or washing machine is much more economical than running half loads.
8. As mentioned earlier - running a tap wastes water. Fill up a bowl to wash vegetables, this waste water can then be used to water plants.
9. Make the most of the rain: capturing rainfall in a water butt means you have a free source of water for your garden plants.
10. Check your pipes regularly and plug any leaks. This could save you a fortune and protect your home from water damage.