University water checklist

Here’s five top tips students need to know before they move into student accommodation.

These tips will help make sure students’ water supplies are high quality and help them stay on top of their bills and give them the know-how on dealing with leaks and bursts.

Going to university for the first time, or returning in subsequent years, is a really exciting time.

We know that your water supply may not be top of your agenda, but following these five simple tips will help keep you and your housemates healthy and allow you to confidently manage your bills and find an approved plumber, should you need one.

These tips can be followed when you first move in, or even before, leaving you to enjoy your studies and everything university has to offer for the rest of the academic year.

Top tips

 1.      If you’re responsible for paying the water bill, find out who the local water supplier is, take a meter reading and set up an online account with them

2.      Make sure you know where your internal stop tap is, so you can quickly turn the water off if you find a leaking or burst pipe

3.      Keep the name and number of a WaterSafe-approved emergency plumber handy, or ask your landlord if they have one in mind, just in case of an urgent problem

4.      Whether you’re looking to save money on your water bill or contribute to leaving more water in the environment, you may be eligible for free water saving devices via the Get Water Fit or Save Water Save Money websites

5.      Ask your landlord or university if they have completed a legionella risk assessment - while rare, it is possible to contract Legionnaire’s Disease by inhaling water droplets contaminated with legionella bacteria.