What can I do to reduce water waste?

It’s all too easy to run a kitchen tap while peeling vegetables, or turn on the shower for a few minutes before getting in, and not think about the water we’re wasting.

Around one third of the water each person uses on a daily basis is wasted, so there is huge potential to make savings – on water and in your wallet. Add to that the cost of heating water, which makes up about 25 per cent of the average gas bill, and there are also energy savings to be made too.

We want to support households to reduce their water waste, not restrict their water use.

It’s important to fix faulty plumbing as soon as possible. Thames Water found that on average, fixing a leaking toilet could save 212 litres of water per household per day.

WaterSafe backs the use of plumbing products which use technology to automatically reduce water and energy consumption, often without you even noticing a difference. These include tap and shower aerators, which add air into the water to maintain the flow while using less water.

Along with taps, these products need to be kept clean to support good hygiene. Regularly clean household taps according to the manufacturers’ instructions. After cleaning the tap, run the water for a few moments to remove any disinfectant.

Some water-saving products may be available for free from your local water company. It is worth contacting them to find out what they might be able to provide to make your home or business more water and energy efficient.