Saving water

Why save water?

Water is a precious commodity. The lifestyle that many of us lead today, coupled with climate change and population growth mean that there is an increasing demand on our water supply. It is important that we do not take this precious commodity for granted. There are little things we can all do to help conserve water.

Saving water in the home

  • fitting a Save-a-Flush device in your toilet cistern can save up to one litre per flush - that’s a saving of nearly 2,000 litres per person per year* (see below for how you can get a Save-a-flush)
  • installing a Hippo (designed to work in toilet cisterns with a nine litre flush or greater) could save up to 5,000 litres per person per year.* (see below for how to order yours)
  • take a shower instead of a bath – this can save over 300 litres of water a week (be careful though – a power shower can use more water than a bath)
  • turn off the tap when brushing your teeth - leaving the tap running whilst brushing your teeth wastes six litres per minute
  • fix leaking taps - a dripping tap can waste up to 140 litres a week
  • when buying a new dishwasher, choose one that is energy efficient as this saves on water and electricity - machines with an 'A' rating are most economical
  • don’t use the washing machine if you’ve only got half a load - wait for a full load before using the washing machine – a full load uses less water than two half loads 
  • keep a jug of water in the fridge so that you don't have to run the tap for ages to get a cold drink
  • only fill the kettle with enough water for your needs - this will reduce your fuel bills too
  • lag your pipes and leave your heating on a low setting when you are out to avoid bursts in cold weather
  • if you have a water meter, check for leaks by turning off the water and taking two readings several minutes apart; if the readings are different there may be a leak

* If you find your toilet is not flushing properly, please remove your Save-a-Flush⁄Hippo.

How much water do we use?

  • in the UK, every person uses 160 litres of water a day
  • in developing countries each person uses only 20 litres a day
  • one third of household water is used to flush the toilet

Ordering a Save-a-Flush or Hippo

The Council have a limited number of ‘Save-a-Flush’ devices and Water Hippos that residents can obtain for free. Phone Streetline on 020 7361 3001 to order yours.

Ordering a water butt for the garden

You can order a water butt for a reduced price via the Thames Water website.