Saving Water: what can I do?

Be aware – like we are with recycling

We are more aware of our environment than ever. It’s only a matter of time before water conservation goes the same way as recycling of household waste. Both are modern-day issues: recycling came around because we needed to reduce the pressure of ever-growing consumerism and wasteage. In the same way, changes in weather patterns and the effects of global warming have had such a dramatic effect on the UK’s water supply that scarcity and cost are becoming increasingly important issues for all of us.

Stop taking water for granted

We’ve all grown up taking water for granted. Turn on the tap and there’s water. Flush the toilet and there's water. Take a bath. Put on the dishwasher. Turn on a hosepipe. We use water without really thinking about it. We’ve never had to change our ways – until now. We’re at the tipping point of needing to take a more active role in reducing the amount of water we use, otherwise we will incur hosepipe bans for longer, expect increased metering of supply – and ultimately suffer higher water rates.

How can I save water?

It’s easy. Water-saving doesn’t require drastic measures, huge expense or big shifts in the way you do things. Think of it like giving up smoking or chocolate – you can’t just quit immediately. Start at the beginning with small incremental steps, get to understand how much water these steps save (and how much extra money you’ll have in your pocket), then take on more water-saving measures.

How much money could I save?

You can reduce your water usage by adopting one or several tips featured on this website, with one or several of the products. Remember, the less water you use, the more money you can save. Over the course of the year, it can add up to a significant saving.

Reduce your water usage by 3 litres a day; you could save up to £6.92 a year. You can do this simply by inserting a Hippo into your toilet cistern.
Reduce your water usage by around 20 litres a day, and you could save up to £24.33 a year. You can achieve this by combining our top 5 tips with one of our Get Flush Starter Kits.
Reduce your water usage by 45 litres a day, and you could save up to £54.75 a year , including the cost to heat the water. You can achieve this with one of our Get Flush Starter Kits and taking a (non-power) shower instead of a bath.

Put all this in perspective.

Water is a global resource, whether we choose to accept it or not. Of all the water in the world, only 3% is fresh, and of this only 10% is available for human use. The rest is frozen in glaciers or polar ice caps, or deep within the earth beyond our reach.

Consider how much water is needed to grow what we eat and drink. According to UNESCO it takes:

Between 2,000 and 5,000 litres of water to grow one kilo of rice
Over 1,000 litres of water to grow a kilo of wheat
Between 2,000 and 11,000 litres of water to grow the feed for enough meat to make a ¼-pound hamburger
Between 2,000 and 4,000 litres of water for that cow to fill its udders with a litre of milk.