How to Save Water: Practical Tips for Everyday Living
Water is something many of us take for granted, especially in the UK, where rainfall is common. However, fresh water is a limited resource, and using less of it can benefit both your wallet and the environment.
Here are some simple ways to reduce your water use without making major changes to your daily routine.
Why you should reduce your water usage
Save money on bills – Using less water can lower your utility bills. If you’re on a water meter, you’ll pay for less water, and because heating water requires energy, you’ll also reduce your gas or electricity costs. Small changes may seem insignificant, but over time they can add up to substantial savings.
Scarcity of fresh water – Even though we get a lot of rain, especially in the UK, water is still a limited resource. Only 2.5% of all the water on Earth is fresh, and less than 1% of that is actually available for people to use.
Environmental protection – Reducing your water usage is really helpful for keeping water ecosystems safe because it cuts down on the pollution from wastewater. Plus, when we use less water, it requires less energy to treat and deliver it to our homes, which means lower greenhouse gas emissions and a positive impact on climate change.
Simple Ways to Save Water
Bathroom
- Instead of taking a bath, take a shower, but don’t stay in it for too long. Try to keep your shower short and set a timer to keep yourself on track.
- Turn off the tap when you are brushing your teeth, shaving, or washing your hands. Wet brush, turn off, scrub, rinse quickly. This goes the same for hand washing.
- Use a water-saving showerhead – this could save up to around 10,000 litres of water annually.
- Check under your sink for leaks every 6 months and fix any dripping taps as soon as you spot them. Replace any old washers in your kitchen and bathroom.
- Test your toilet for leaks by adding a few drops of food colouring to the cistern. Wait around 30 minutes without flushing. If colour appears in the bowl, you may have a leak.
- If you have an older toilet with a large cistern, consider installing a cistern displacement device or replacing it with a dual-flush model rather than placing bottles inside the tank.
Follow the saying: “If it’s yellow, let it mellow; if it’s brown, flush it down.” While this isn’t suitable for every household, it can significantly reduce water use.
Laundry
- Washing your clothes less often is a great way to save water and helps them last longer. Plus, when they make new clothes that use a lot of water in the process.
- Try reusing your towels. Hang them to dry and use them two or three times before putting them in the washing machine.
- Save up your laundry and only run the washing machine when you have a full load.
Kitchen
- Use a bowl when washing fruits and vegetables. If you use a running tap, it wastes a lot of water fast.
- Run your dishwasher only when full.
- Soak your pots and pans in water first instead of scrubbing them under a running tap.
- Only boil the amount of water you need for making cups of tea or coffee. Measuring it out in a mug can help save water and energy, as kettles use a lot of electricity.
- Purchase the most energy-efficient washing machines and dishwashers that are in your budget. Every washing machine and dishwasher sold in the UK and the EU carries an energy efficiency label known as Label 2020. When you visit the shop or browse online, you can now see a letter. It goes from G to A. The higher the letter, the better the energy efficiency will be, with A being the most efficient.
Should you think about getting a water meter?
This section applies to England and Wales, as water charging works differently in Scotland and Northern Ireland.
Water bills have risen significantly in recent years, so it’s worth checking whether switching to a water meter could save you money.
Money-saving expert Martin Lewis advises:
“If there are more bedrooms in your home than people, or the same number, it’s worth checking whether a water meter could save you money.”
Whether a meter is worthwhile depends on your household size and water usage. If you live alone or as a couple in a larger property, you could make worthwhile savings.
You can estimate whether a water meter would be cheaper by using the Consumer Council for Water’s calculator:
Free Water-Saving Devices
Depending on your water supplier, you may be able to claim free water-saving products such as shower timers, tap inserts and water-efficient showerheads.
Enter your postcode here to see what’s available in your area:
Do You Have Any Water-Saving Tips?
I’d love to hear your favourite ways to save water. Share your best tips in the comments below.
