How To Conserve Water

Step 1: Fit a water meter

You may be very surprised by how much water you are actually using. Fitting a water meter will raise your awareness and consequently reduce your water intake. Call your local water board to request one - it may even reduce your bill

Step 2: Shower Vs. Bath

A bath can use up to 100 litres of water! Where as a shower will only use a third of this amount. The maths is simply - take a shower and save that water.

Step 3: Running taps

Do not let your taps run when you are not using them. That includes cleaning your teeth, a whopping 5 litres a minute can be saved if you switch off while you brush

Step 4: Fix it

Are any of the taps in your house dripping? If so, fix them fast. This could save up to 140 litres a week. Have a look at VideoJug's films on fixing a dripping tap to see how to do this the right way.

Step 5: Washing machine

Running your washing machine when you only have a few items is a waste of energy as well as water. Use the economy setting or wait until you have enough to make a wash worth while

Step 6: Rainwater tank

If you have a garden, invest in a rainwater tank. With hosepipe bans becoming the norm you will still have a supply of water to use on your garden without draining resources

Step 7: Reduce the water in your cistern

Each time you flush up to 9 litres of clean water are used. Reduce this amount by placing a plastic bottle, weighed down with pebbles and filled with water, in the tank. This will reduce the amount of water being flushed away Alternatively order a 'save-a flush' or 'hippo' from your water board

Finally, only flush the toilet is you really need to. Remember, that's 9 litres of clean water you are using every time.