According to Ofwat, people use around 150 litres of water a day, on average.
And according to a UK Government report, hot water accounts for around 18% of a household’s heat demand.
Many of us may not realise that our water use at home contributes to our energy bills and our household carbon footprint.
Saving water can reduce:
- your water bill (if you’re on a water meter)
- your energy use and bills
- the impact on your local environment
- your carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions by using less energy to pump, heat and treat the water
Water is closely linked to energy use. But most of us underestimate the energy water companies need to treat and pump water into homes.
How much water does the average household use?
How do we use water?
We all need water and use it in so many ways around the home. Through cooking, washing our hands, showering and bathing, the litres soon add up. In addition to water bill and CO2 savings, by reducing our hot water use, we can also save on our energy bills.
From cleaning and gardening, washing the car to flushing the toilet, we’re using often using cold water, too. Reducing this can save on our water bills (if you have a water meter) and CO2 emissions associated with pumping fresh water and treating wastewater.
Quick tips to save water
No-one likes to waste water. However, many of us don’t realise that water use contributes to energy bills.
Simple water use changes can save you money and reduce the amount of water you waste. There are also several water saving products available to make it easier for you to save.
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01
Change your shower head
If a typical family replace their inefficient shower head with a water efficient one, they could reduce their combined heating and water bills by around £65 in Great Britain (GB) and £30 in Northern Ireland (NI).
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02
Turn off the tap
According to the Consumer Council for Water, a running tap can use around nine litres of water a minute. So, turn off the tap while brushing your teeth, shaving, or washing your face. Use cold water if you don’t need hot.
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03
Fix leaky taps
A dripping tap can waste thousands of litres of water a year, so make sure your taps are properly turned off and change washers promptly when taps start to drip.
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04
Use cold water
Try to avoid wasting water from running taps while waiting for hot water.
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05
Fill your dishwasher
Make sure that dishwashers and washing machines are full before you use them, and ensure you regularly use the most efficient water and energy settings.
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06
Use a bowl for washing up
Using a bowl to wash up rather than a running tap can save you money on your energy and water bills if you have a water meter. In fact you only need to run a typical tap for 95 seconds before you would have filled a washing up bowl. If you need to rinse utensils or wash vegetables, use cold water if possible and don’t leave the tap running.
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