Water. Turn on the tap, and like magic, it’s there. A brew, a bath, a shower, clean clothes and dishes… we all take it a bit for granted really. But, how much is it costing, and could we save money?
Reduce your bill and your impact on the planet with these water-saving tips:
Consider a water meter
There’s a great deal of debate over whether a meter will save you money or not. As a rough guide, if there are more, or the same, number of people as bedrooms in your house, installing a meter could save you about £100 a year.
Request an assessed bill
If you don’t want, or can’t have, a water meter, check out whether an assessed bill would work in your favour. These vary according to provider but are usually based on the number of people and bedrooms and type of property you live in.
Use the dishwasher
Believe it or not, it takes more water to hand-wash dishes than stick them in the dishwasher. It’s also best to wait until it’s packed to the brim before turning it on.
Have a shower not a bath
And keep them short! If it’s a low-flow rather than a powerhead, a five-minute shower will use about 12 gallons while 15 minutes will pump out 37 gallons. That’s a fair saving every time you scrub up.
Drop the drip
One leaking tap can waste between 1,000 – 2,000 gallons of water every year.
Turn it off
When you’re brushing your teeth or shaving, turn the tap off. Simple, but less flow time means less water – and money – disappearing down the plughole.
Bottle it
Fill a plastic bottle with water and place it in the cistern of your toilet. It will displace the water and cause the tank to fill with less water. A 20oz bottle will save 20oz of water.
Load your laundry
Only use your washing machine when you’ve got a full load (good excuse to wear your favourite t-shirt again?).
Rain it in
Collect rainwater (no shortage there) and use it to water your plants. Using the hose pipe will waste gallons and knock the heads off your prize geraniums.
Use a car wash
Or drive a dirty car! Washing your motor can use between 100 and 500 gallons of water. If you like a nice clean car, put the cost on someone else’s water bill.
Put tap water in the fridge
When you want a cold drink, it will save you standing with a thumb under a running tap waiting for it to get cold. Or run it straight from the tap and stick an ice cube in it to cool it down.
Get some freebies!
Check on your water provider’s website for free water-saving gadgets such as shower heads, tap inserts and Save-a-Flush bags for the cistern.
Go on. Take the plunge and save water and money.
