5 Top Tips For Saving Money On Your Water Bill
The cost of everything is going up just now – and water bills are set to rise by 7.5% on average annually.
This means that households could face paying an extra £31 over the course of a year.
According to data from Google search trends, there was an 85% increase in searches for “reduce water usage” in March 2023. This indicates that the public are actively looking at ways to keep costs down.
Use a watering can rather than a hose for plants. Pic: Shutterstock
While saving money during a cost-of-living crisis is essential, there is also the environmental impact to consider. Statistics from Thames Water suggest that if the UK keeps using water at the current rate, by 2050 we’ll require an additional 250 million litres every day!
Adam Chard at online bathroom retailer Victoria Plum has detailed his top 5 tips on how to save water…
1. Limiting shower time
On average, UK adults spend 7-8 minutes in the shower each day. Cutting this down by a couple of minutes could contribute massively to reducing your water. Typically, showers will use between 10 and 11 litres of water per minute, so cutting down by 2 minutes each day could reduce your output by 154 litres per week.
The easiest way to do this is, of course, setting a timer. Or you could fit a digital shower with a time-limit function, which will ensure you don’t go over.
Time’s up! Pic: Shutterstock
2. Repairing leaks
Addressing and repairing leaks is essential if you want to keep costs down, with the most common being dripping taps, toilet flappers and showerheads. If they go unnoticed or unfixed, they can waste a huge number of litres per day.
A leaky toilet, for example – one with a constantly running flush – can use a staggering 400 litres every day. This would see any water bill skyrocket.
The best way to avoid a nasty surprise when getting your monthly bill is to regularly check and repair any sources of leaks in your home and address the problem immediately.
Track down and fix leaks. Pic: iStockphoto
3. Switching to a water meter
Making the switch to a water meter will naturally give you a much better indication of how much water you are using, and therefore how much you spend. It is much the same as having a smart energy meter, but you will need to give your water supplier readings, usually every few months or so.
Once the meter is set up, you will have a much better idea whether you need to cut back on your water usage to help make savings on your bills. If you are not currently on a metered system, the best way to get started is to contact your local water supplier.
4. Avoiding unnecessary tap usage
Leaving the tap running while cleaning your teeth, shaving or doing the washing up – even if it’s only for a few minutes – can add up throughout the year. In fact, according to Thames Water, a family of four could save around £36 per year on their metered water bill if they only turn the tap on when rinsing.
Turn that tap off until you need to rinse! Pic: Shutterstock
5. Use water-saving products
There are so many water-saving products you can install easily to help reduce your usage:
- Dual flush toilets – This allows you to choose a short flush or a long flush, saving unnecessary litres from being wasted. Most of Victoria Plum’s toilets come with this as standard, most commonly with the 3/6 litre option.
- Water-saving showerheads – Eco-friendlier showerheads are becoming more popular, creating the same shower experience as a “normal” shower head but using less water. The Mode Easy Click Shower Head from Victoria Plum does this with its Eco Spray function.
- Flow limiters – Installing flow limiters to taps and showers can help you reduce your water usage, either automatically or by selecting the “eco” option. Many of Victoria Plum’s taps and showers come with flow limiters built in.
The Mode Easy Click shower head, £11.99 at Victoria Plum
To find out more, visit victoriaplum.com
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