Just a few small changes to your daily routine can have a big impact on your bills, and reduce the amount of water that you and your family waste each day. Try a few of these tips to keep the costs down and start using your water wisely when at home.
In the bathroom
Take showers instead of baths. You can save around 45 litres of water by swapping a big soak for a 5-minute shower. An average size bathtub uses up to 80 litres of water, whereas a 5-minute regular shower only uses about 35 litres. Think about how long you need for a shower too; try not to stay under the spray longer than is necessary.
Don’t leave the tap running when you’re cleaning your teeth, shaving or washing your face. It might not sound like much, but the amount of water you waste in these ways can really add up. A tap left running for just 5 minutes can use almost 50 litres of water.
Try to avoid using your toilet as a handy place to drop tissues, cigarette ash and other litter. It’s better to use a wastepaper basket instead of flushing them.
In the kitchen
Use a bowl to prepare vegetables, rather than rinsing them under a running tap. This is also a good idea when you’re rinsing dishes or pans after a meal. If you use a dishwasher, make sure it’s fully loaded before you put it on. Your washing machine should be full before use, too - every cycle uses about 100 litres of water, so it’s worth making each one count.
Set your dishwasher or washing machine to an eco cycle or shorter wash, if there is one. Only use the heavy wash cycles for stubborn stains or when necessary.
In general
If you can install a water regulator or water saver on your taps and showerhead, it mixes the water coming out of the tap with air to control the flow and reduce how much water you're using. They’re easy to install and you’ll hardly notice any reduction in the amount of water you receive.
Check regularly for water leaks. Even a single dripping tap can waste 15 litres of water each day, and serious leaks waste far more. A good way to tell if there’s a problem is to take a water meter reading, then check it again after a 2-hour period during which no water has been used, if the two readings aren’t exactly the same there is probably a leak. If this is the case, you need to call a qualified plumber to fix it.
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