How many ways can you save water in your home?

Showers versus baths

We use around 68% of water at home in the bathroom - in the bath, at the sink, flushing toilets and in the shower. There are plenty of ways to save water in this room.

  • Having a soak in the bath uses an average of 80 litres of water. Try swapping to a refreshing shower instead. 
  • Even better, why not take advantage of our free water-saving showerheads and save even more water - around 6 litres per minute! You might think this will reduce the pressure, but those showerheads mix air into the water to produce a steady, even spray.
  • The Water Industry have done some reasearch, and conclude that 4 minutes is the most water-efficient shower time. That doesn't mean you can only spend 4 minutes in the shower, it means leaving water running for only 4 minutes while you shower. Try turning it off while you're soaping up. You'll save more water than you think.

 

 

Toilets

Flush wisely

Ever wondered what the difference is between the buttons on a dual flush? They're there to give you the choice of how much water to use.

  • The small button will give a half-flush (around 4 litres or less), and the big button will provide a full flush (around 6 litres or less).
  • This is a lot better than the old-style flush systems that use 9-13 litres per flush! 

Install a Cistern Displacement Device (CDD) or toilet buffaloo

Have you got an old-style flush that's using a lot of water? A Cistern Displacement Device may just be the free device you need. You'll save lots of water with very little effort. They're easy to install, and you don't have to change your routine.

  • Placing one of these in the cistern of your toilet can save around 1 litre of water every time you flush. When added up, that's around a 5000 litre saving for the average household! 

Fix leaky loos quick 

Did you realise that a leaky loo wastes between 200 and 400 litres of water per day? That’s a jaw-dropping 72,000 to 148,000 litres of water wasted every year, just from one leaking toilet.

  • If you think you might have a leaky loo, and live in Cornwall, we might be able to help you - check out our advice here.
  • If you need a plumber, we've got some guidance on that too.

 

Taps:

Taps are another touchpoint where you can save water with ordinary steps.Keeping a tap running uses around 6 litres per minute.

  • Save water by remembering to turn off the tap while brushing your teeth and making sure the tap is fully turned off when you've finished washing your hands, filling the sink, or grabbing a drink.
  • Fix any dripping taps as soon as you can. If left, a dripping tap can waste around 5,500 litres of water a year. Check out our guidance on choosing a trustworthy plumber.

 

Dishwasher versus hand-washing dishes:

Is using a dishwasher more water-efficient than washing the dishes by hand? Yes. But under these conditons:

  • The dishwasher is completely full
  • It's run on an eco setting
  • Dishes are not pre-rinsed before being put in the dishwasher - modern detergents are very effective, so just scraping any food debris into the bin before placing dishes in the dishwasher should be enough.

If having a dishwasher isn't an option for you, don't worry, there are other oridnary steps you can take to help save water while doing the washing up.

  • Use a washing up bowl or plug your sink to wash the dishes, rather than keep the tap running all the time. This can reduce water wastage by 50%.
  • Fitting a tap aerator can help reduce the amount of water being used, and guess what, we're offering these for free!

 

Washing clothes:

Washing machines can be main water guzzlers at home. There are a couple of things you can do to help keep them running as efficiently as possible.

  • Make sure the machine is full before putting on a wash. There's no need to put two washes on when one would have been sufficient. 
  • Some washing machines have an Eco setting. These cycles tend to take longer, so why not put a load on overnight (this can also save you on your energy use depending on your tariff)?
  • When buying a washing machine, check its water and energy use, some models will use less than 7.5 litres per kg.

 

Drinking and cooking:

Saving water is important, but remember to drink enough of it too! The average human should be drinking at least 2 to 3 litres of water a day.

  • Put a large bottle/jug of water in the fridge so you can have chilled water all the time. (This will also save you running the tap to get cold water).
  • Fill the kettle with only what's needed: this will save water and energy.
  • Using a lid on saucepans reduces the amount of water lost through evaporation. It also helps to cook your veg quicker, saving energy.

Extra tip: plants love to have a drink of any leftover water in glasses, kettles and saucepans (as long as it's not still hot!).