Water conservation in the home
Water is precious and we can all play our part in making sure it is not wasted. There are lots of opportunities to save water around the home and garden - see how much you can save. If you have a metered supply, it will save you money, as well as helping protect our environment.
Kitchen
Boil only the amount of water you need when making hot drinks. It’ll save electricity too.
Choose your new dishwasher with an economy wash cycle or half load facility – and look for the ECO label.
Wash a full load of clothes and use the economy setting if your machine has one.
Fill a bowl of water rather than washing and preparing vegetables under a running tap.
Wash the dishes in a bowl rather than under a running tap and use another bowl full of clean water to rinse.
Bathroom
Install a shower – it could pay for itself quickly from the savings you make if you’re on a water meter. Beware fast flow “Power Showers” though – they can consume more water than a bath.
Check the temperature of your bath as it fills – this reduces the amount of water you use and cold water you have to add.
Don’t leave the tap running when brushing your teeth. Rinse using a glass of water.
Use a bucket or washing up bowl instead of rinsing the cloth under running water when cleaning the bathroom.
Choose a low-flush toilet cistern when buying a new bathroom suite - you could save money and water.
Save water using an older cistern by filling a plastic bottle or bag with water and carefully placing it in the cistern.
General
Make sure everyone in your household knows where the internal stop-tap is. You can usually find it under the sink, in the hall, bathroom or garage. Ensure you can turn it on and off.
Fit insulation to hot and cold water pipes. A lot of water can be wasted by running taps whilst waiting for the water to get hot. Frozen pipes which burst during winter also waste a lot of water.
Garden
Choose trickle systems which can work from a water butt without mains pressure when watering your garden rather than a sprinkler - these can use as much water in an hour as a family of four uses in a day.
Collect rainwater from your roof with a rain water diverter and water butt – it is better for plants anyway. Only use mains tap water as a last resort.
Watch the weather forecast and save washing-up water for gardening on dry days.
Keep the flower beds weed free. Weeds starve the trees and shrubs of moisture.
Recirculate water in ponds and fountains and incorporate a filter system. Repair any leaks as quickly as possible.
Sink an empty plant pot beside each plant and fill with water. It will soak straight to where it’s needed. Avoid the heat of the day.
Choose plants that thrive in dry conditions like marigolds and cornflowers.
Water in the evening to avoid damaging plants.
Establish trees properly when you plant them. Soak the roots at planting, keep them watered through the first summer and their shade will help save water in the future.
Round the year in your garden:
Spring
Soak roots of newly planted flowers, shrubs and trees.
Mulch borders whilst the soil is moist.
Summer
Raise your mower blades. One-inch long grass stays greener longer. Too much water damages lawns, and encourages moss.
Autumn
Use leaves, kitchen waste and grass-clippings to start a compost heap making useful – and free - home-made mulch by next summer.
Winter
Divide and replant the flowers that thrived in the dry summer. Improve the soil with compost, as fertile soil holds moisture well.