How much water do you think you use on a typical day? According to CCW UK, the average person in the UK used about 139 litres of water per day around their home last year.
Making small changes to use less water in your home can help reduce your water bills - and have a positive impact on the environment. Here are our top six water saving tips:
- Short showers are the new long baths
- Turn that tap off!
- Wash full loads of clothes and dishes
- Check for leaks and get them repaired
- Ask your local water board for a free water meter fitting
- Switch your shower head to a low flow or 'water saving'
1. Short showers are the new long baths
Switching to showers is great way to save water! A full bath uses about 80 litres of water when you fill the tub, but a 4-minute shower will use less than half that. Keep your showers short and sweet to use water more efficiently.
2. Turn that tap off!
Running taps produce as much as 9 litres of water a minute. Be sure to turn them off when you’re not using them – especially when brushing your teeth.
Think about filling a small bowl to wash or rinse things, rather than doing it under the tap. Then when you’re done, you can use the waste water to water your plants or flush your loo.
3. Wash full loads of clothes and dishes
Don’t switch on your dishwasher or washing machine until you’ve got a full load. You’ll use your appliances less often, and save on water usage. Cutting out just one cycle of your washing machine can conserve around 40 litres of water, and up to 14 litres for a dishwasher.
4. Check for leaks and get them repaired
According to Ofwat (the water sector regulators in England and Wales), just under 50 litres of water per person was lost every day to leaks in 2023-24. In Scotland and Northern Ireland, the figure is a whopping 80 litres per person, per day.
Here’s what you can do to help your home stay leak-free:
- Fix any dripping taps or showerheads.
- Replace worn seals and stoppers in your toilets and pipes.
- Get your house checked by a plumber for any hidden leaks.
- Invest in a personal water detection device to check for leaks yourself.
5. Ask your local water board for a free water meter fitting
Around 60% of homes in England already have a water meter. If you’re still paying a fixed rate, ask your local water board for a water meter.
Fitting a water meter in your home means you’ll only pay for the water you actually use. With a water meter, you can track how much water you use and adjust your habits to conserve water and save money on your bills. You may be able to have a meter fitted for free, so check your options with your water company.
6. Switch your shower head to a low flow or 'water saving'
It’s not just changing from baths to showers that can help save water. You can boost your efficiency by switching to a water-saving shower head. They can reduce the water you use when showering by up to 50% while keeping a high water pressure.
There are two types of water saving shower heads:
-
Non-aerating shower heads
Restrict the water flow by having smaller holes. This restricts the amount of water that can pass through while maintaining high pressure.
-
Aerating shower heads
Mixes the restricted flow of water with air so the water appears to come out of the showerhead at higher pressure and volume.
Before making the switch, check your current shower connections. You'll need to make sure you're buying the right shower head to suit your bathroom.
Saving water around the home helps benefit the environment – and your wallet! Now you know some easy water saving tips for your everyday routine, check out some of our other useful tips and guides. And if you’re not already a customer, check out AXA home insurance to get a quote today.
