Tips to Save Water

You’ll also be doing your bit for the environment. Why not make a start with our top tips to save drops:

Remember to turn off the tap while brushing your teeth. A running tap can use up to 6 litres a minute, and by turning off the tap you could save enough water for a nice soak in the bath once a week.

For a change, have a shower instead of a bath.  A standard five minute shower uses less water than a bath, but be careful, a power shower can use a third more than the average bath. Think about fitting a water efficient shower head or timer.

If you’re shopping for a new loo choose one with a dual flush. About a third of drinkable water is flushed down the loo.

Wait until you have a full load before using the washing machine.  Washing machines use around 14% of the water used in the home so fill up or use the half-load button. You’ll save water, energy and detergent. The same goes for dishwashers.

Keep a jug of water in the fridge so you don’t have to run the tap to get a cold drink.

Wash your vegetables in a bowl, not under a running tap.  And when finished why not use the water on your plants.

Always remember to fix any dripping taps.  A dripping tap can lose up to 4 litres of water a day.

Get a water butt for the garden. And collect around 5,000 litres of rainwater a year to water your plants with rather than using a hosepipe.

Water plants early morning or late evening, to prevent evaporation when it’s warm.  Don’t forget to check the weather forecast first – it might rain tomorrow.

Use a watering can instead of a sprinkler, it’s more accurate.  Sprinklers use as much in an hour as a family of four does in 48 hours.

Use a bucket and sponge to wash the car, rather than a hosepipe.  Hosepipes can use up to 1,000 litres per hour.

Check for leaks on the supply pipe to your home on a regular basis.  Cover outside taps and pipework during the winter to prevent them from freezing and bursting. If you discover an external leak, take a look at the Anglian Water leaks on supply pipes page for advice on how to get the leak repaired.

Small changes can make big differences.

Follow the link to find out more about what Anglian Water are doing to protect the future of our water supply.