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Save water in the home

Tips on how to avoid wasting water in the kitchen and bathroom

In the kitchen

  • Wash vegetables and fruit in a bowl rather than under a running tap, then use the leftover water for watering house plants.
  • When you boil water in saucepans and kettles, use the minimum amount of water, that way, you'll save energy as well as water.
  • Try keeping a bottle or jug of water in the fridge instead of running taps until the water runs cold.
  • Wait until you have a full load before switching on the dishwater or washing machine.  Did you know 'half-load' programmes use more than half the water and energy of a full load.

In the bathroom

  • Don't leave the tap running while you brush your teeth, shave or wash your hands.  This can waste up to 6 litres of water per minute.
  • Showers use about 9 litres of water per minute.  A 5 minute shower uses about a third of the water of a bath. But remember that power showers can use more water than a bath in less than 5 minutes. Taking a quicker shower could give you an extra few minutes in bed or you could leave for work a bit earlier and miss the traffic.  Find out whether men or women take longer in the shower, visit:
  • the Shower Power campaign from Waterwise
  • Old toilet cisterns can use as much as 9 litres of clean water every flush. Reduce this by placing a 'save-a-flush' or 'hippo' in the cistern.  These are often available free of charge from your local water company.
  • Using your toilet as a bin wastes flushes - think before you flush.

General

  • Dripping taps can waste up to 15 litres of water a day. Replace worn tap washers for a quick and cheap way of saving water.
  • Burst water pipes can cause serious damage as well as waste water. Ensure your water pipes and external taps are lagged in time for the cold winter months.

For more tips, visit:

For more detailed information on water-efficient dishwashers, washing machines, showers, baths and taps, click on the Conserving water in buildings advice sheets: