We all need water and use it in so many ways around the home. Whether it’s cooking, washing our hands, showering, bathing, cleaning, gardening, washing the car or simply flushing the toilet. The litres soon add up!
Each household in the UK uses on average around 345 litres of water each day – that’s 145 litres per person, every day.
- Energy Saving Trust
Did you know that using more water can also affect your other utility bills! About 12% of a typical gas-heated household’s energy bill is from heating the water for showers, baths, and hot water from the tap.
A running tap can use more than ten litres of water a minute, so turn off the tap while brushing your teeth, shaving, or washing your face. Use cold water if you don’t need hot.
Showers use a lot less water and energy than baths. It may be the biggest saving you can make in your day-to-day.
"If everyone in a four-person metered household with a power shower did this, it could save them £60 on energy bills and a further £60 on water bills every year." - Energy Saving Trust
Make sure that dishwashers and washing machines are full before you use them, and ensure you regularly use the most efficient water and energy settings. A modern automatic washing machine uses about 50 litres of water per wash so it’s more efficient, both in terms of water and heating, to use a fully loaded washing machine (but don’t overload it!).
Not using a bowl whilst washing up in the sink means keeping a tap running, usually for longer than you need it to. Using a bowl can save you money on your energy and water bills if you have a water meter. You only need to run a typical tap for 95 seconds before you would have filled a washing up bowl.
Unfinished drinks or ice cubes can all be used to water house or garden plants. Remember that your plants get thirsty too.
Putting the exact amount of water you need in the kettle saves both water and energy. Most kettles have indicators letting you know how much water you need for each cup.
A running tap can use more than ten litres of water a minute, so turn off the tap while brushing your teeth, shaving, or washing your face. Use cold water if you don’t need hot.
Showers use a lot less water and energy than baths. It may be the biggest saving you can make in your day-to-day.
"If everyone in a four-person metered household with a power shower did this, it could save them £60 on energy bills and a further £60 on water bills every year." - Energy Saving Trust
Make sure that dishwashers and washing machines are full before you use them, and ensure you regularly use the most efficient water and energy settings. A modern automatic washing machine uses about 50 litres of water per wash so it’s more efficient, both in terms of water and heating, to use a fully loaded washing machine (but don’t overload it!).
Not using a bowl whilst washing up in the sink means keeping a tap running, usually for longer than you need it to. Using a bowl can save you money on your energy and water bills if you have a water meter. You only need to run a typical tap for 95 seconds before you would have filled a washing up bowl.
Putting the exact amount of water you need in the kettle saves both water and energy. Most kettles have indicators letting you know how much water you need for each cup.
We aim to install devices that are efficient to reduce the amount of water used in our homes. We’re also working in partnership with local water companies such as Severn Trent Water and South Staffordshire Water to offer water saving advice, install water saving devices and repair any leaks as quickly as possible.
Find out more about our partnerships and programmes below.
