Water efficiency tips

The following will get you thinking about the water you use in your home. Are you doing any of these things already? As you’ll see, water efficiency can be a way to save money as well as protecting the environment, too:

• wash fruit and vegetables in a bowl rather than with running water
• a five minute shower uses about a third of the water of a bath (although a power shower will use the same amount of water as a bath in less than five minutes)
• try not to leave the tap running when you brush your teeth – rinse out from a tumbler instead
• eggs release nutrients when you boil them. If you use the water once it’s cooled for watering houseplants, they will appreciate the extra nourishment
• resist the urge to start your washing machine or dishwasher until you have a full load. The average wash needs about 95 litres. A full load uses less water than two half loads

Some quick and easy ideas to save you water today:

• use the minimum amount of water required when making a cup of tea – so you’ll save energy as well as water
• keep a jug of water in the fridge instead of running taps to get cold water
• use the dirty water when cleaning a fish tank on your houseplants. It’s rich in nitrogen and phosphorus, which are excellent fertilizers
• you can use less water by turning the hot tap down, rather than the cold tap up
• cotton wool and tissues should be put in a waste bin rather than flushed down the toilet

The following are more time consuming ideas for water efficiency – but they are worth the extra effort in terms of savings:

• old toilet cisterns use as much as nine litres of clean water with every flush. Reduce this by using a cistern displacement device – you can request one of these from your supplier by carrying out a water bill comparison on uSwitch.com
• dripping taps waste up to four litres of water a day. Replace worn tap washers for a quick and cheap way of saving money

Burst water pipes can cause serious flood damage to your home as well as wasting water. Ensure your water pipes and external taps are properly lagged before the cold winter months set in.

Ask your local garden centre for advice on any of the following:

• mulching retains water in your garden. This could be a layer of tree bark, compost, coconut husks or even old newspapers. It keeps the sun off and retains precious moisture
• you only need to water your lawn once a week in the hottest weather. Over watering can weaken your lawn by encouraging roots to seek the surface. Early morning or evening is the best time to do this, since you’ll avoid evaporation
• opt for a Xeriscape – or a ‘landscape for water conservation’ by using plants that require less water. You can also use objects for decorative effect such as rocks, bricks, benches and gravel. This is an especially good idea in the South East, where the climate increasingly suits Mediterranean plants

There are many other long term ways to save water in your home and garden that might involves some initial cost, but could save you money in the long term. Read 'How to save water at home' for a wider range of suggestions on how to cut your water use.