Savings shown to your water usage here could save you up to £90 per year and 400kg of CO²

Why save water?

Astonishingly, the average household uses about 500 litres of water a day! Even more surprising is that over one quarter of this is flushed down the toilet!

Water gives life, health and vitality to all aspects of our lives, groundwater levels are at the lowest for 20 years, which is affecting wildlife dependent on rivers and low wetlands. Conserving water, can save you money and greatly lessen the impact of drought on our environment. Accordingly we should treat this precious resource with respect and get the most from every drop.

How much water do you use?

The table below lists our most common uses for water in and around the home. These figures are based on an average cost per litre of 0.19 pence for water supplied and taken away. The average cost per litre of water may vary slightly from company to company.

As populations increase, so does our need for water. This increase in water consumption is straining our water reserves. Actions like leaving a tap running while brushing our teeth, unnecessary use of sprinklers or hose pipes, running taps for long periods and flushing down the toilet things like tissues and cotton wool inescapably will bring water scarcity and concerns like will there be enough to go round.

Water requires lots of energy to collect, purify and supply it to your taps. So by saving water, we are also saving energy and helping reduce carbon emissions. Using water lavishly wastes energy, Why? Because the greatest use of energy in many towns and cities is the supply of water and disposal and recycling of it after it's been used!

Saving Energy from Water Usage

Can a water meter cut costs?

How can you save water?

In the Bathroom

About 70 percent of the water we use inside our homes is used in the bathroom, and there are a few products available that can drastically cut this usage.

Low-Flow Shower Heads sometimes called energy-efficient shower heads as they also use less energy, and achieve water savings of up to 60%, which is around 150 litres per week equating to £15 per year.

Dual Flush Toilet Kits includes two buttons to flush different levels of water. Dual flush toilets use up to 67% less water than conventional toilets, saving around £19 per year and about 190 litres per week.

Faucet Aerators which break water flow into fine droplets while using less water. An additional benefit is that they reduce splashing while washing hands and dishes.

Water bills have been rising steadily and in April 2011, the average annual bill for both water and sewerage increased by 5.5% to £294.

Unfortunately, you cannot shop around, even though the industry is privatised. Each water company in England and Wales controls the local supply and distribution and are near-monopolies, albeit under the tight control of Ofwat.

You can however switch to a water meter which could save you money as you will only then be charged for the water you actually use.

uSwitch.com, says: 'Householders could easily save an average £125 a year by switching to a meter. If you have more bedrooms than people in the house, you are likely to save money by installing a meter because unmetered bills are calculated on the rateable value of a property, which takes into account its size.'

Most companies have an online calculator to help customers decide whether a meter makes sense and many households are entitled to have a meter fitted for free. For information about getting a water meter fitted contact your water company.

There is a downside to metered bills. If a leak is discovered inside your property, it is usually the owner's responsibility to pay for the repair.

More Advice on How You Can Save Water

About 70 percent of the water we use inside our homes is used in the bathroom, there are so many ways you can help preserve the Earth's most precious resource.

In the Kitchen

Energy efficient appliances

When buying new appliances, check over the running costs as well as the purchase price. A small monthly saving from a more energy efficient appliance could add up to quite a large saving over its lifetime.

Buy the smallest product for your needs to cut energy consumption and protect the environment. Two different sized appliances can have the same energy efficiency rating, but generally, the smaller one will use less energy and cost less to run.

Some appliances have unnecessary features that use up extra electricity. For instance, some kettles have lights or ‘keep warm’ functions. Try to avoid these if you’re looking to save energy.

Look for the label

Appliances with an Energy Saving Trust Recommended label are cheaper to run

When buying a new appliance, there are two key energy labels to look out for:

Outside

About 52 percent of the total water we use is used outdoors, invest in a few products like the ones below and you could almost eliminate this usage, saving you around £50 per year.

Garden hose nozzles that shut off water when it is not being used, instead of letting a hose run.

Water collecting almost 100,000 litres of rainwater falls on our roofs each year so by collecting it in a water butt, you have a ready source of water that can help keep your garden looking lush and green. Fit a Solar Powered Water Pump and connect  a hosepipe for washing the car.

The Energy Saving Trust Recommended logo can only be used on the most energy efficient products, usually the top 20 per cent of those available.

The EU energy label grades products from A (best) to G (worst) for energy use, with the scale going up to A++ for fridges and freezers.

You could also look at how water efficient a new appliance is. Often, the more energy efficient a machine is, the less water it will use. You can check water consumption on the EU energy label, which for washing machines and dishwashers, shows litres of water used per wash:

When choosing a washing machine, look for a machine that uses less than 50 litres per wash, with dishwashers, look for one that uses less than 15 litres per wash.

Sinking Your Own Water Bore Hole

In England and Wales, every household can extract 20,000 litres per day from a borehole without license or permission. A Bore Hole will give you cool pure water for ever and it will be free.

The Plans are Easy to Read and Follow

One Unit Generates at least 1,000 Watts of Power

The Wind Generator Can Be Built for Under $100

The Turbines are Easy to Build and Assemble

The Most Powerful and Most Efficient Way To Generate Natural Clean Electricity Was Discovered In 1901! But When “BIG ENERGY” Realised They Couldn’t Meter It And Charge YOU For It! They Buried The Discovery And Had The Government Label It As “CLASSIFIED”