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Installing a low-flush or dual-flush toilet

Toilet flushing accounts for about a third of household water usage: you probably flush away as much water in a day as you drink in a whole month. What you can do:

• when buying a new toilet get a water-saving low-flush or dual flush toilet - the more efficient flush settings on these use around a third less water
• if you are not going to get a new toilet then installing a water displacement device in your cistern will reduce the amount of water used for each flush – typically by one or two litres (displacement devices are available from local water companies)
• variable flush devices can also be fitted to existing toilets, giving you a choice of flushes and saving water - these are known as retrofitting flushing devices and are available from local water companies

• More on water efficient toilets from the Environment Agency (opens new window)

Switch to showers

A five-minute shower can use about a third as much water as a bath. But power showers can use more water than a bath in less than five minutes.

• fitting a water-efficient shower head can reduce the amount of water you use by a further 30 per cent (these should not be fitted to electric showers as this can lead to overheating of the water)
• avoid power showers - you’ll probably end up using more water than if you had a bath

• Saving water for washing (opens new window)

Use water-efficient appliances

The amount of water consumed by dishwashers and washing machines varies considerably.

All new dishwashers and washing machines have a European (EU) energy label which will tell you how much water they user per wash, as well as how energy efficient they are. Things to consider:

• if you have a choice when choosing a washing machine, a good guide is to look for a machine that uses less than 50 litres per wash
• try looking for a dishwasher that uses less than 15 litres per wash
• make sure your dishwasher or washing machine is fully loaded before you switch it on - half-load cycles use much more than half the energy and water of a full load

• UK dishwashers ranked by water efficiency (opens new window)
• UK washing machines ranked by water efficiency (opens new window)
• Find out more about the EU energy label (opens new window)
• Get more advice on water-efficient appliances (opens new window)

Upgrade your plumbing

Things you can do:

• fix drips - a dripping tap or overflow can waste a lot of water (just 2 drips a second adds up to about 26 litres of water a day), but a new washer costs just a few pence and can be fitted in minutes
• fitting aerator or spray ends to washbasin taps  can reduce water consumption by up to 50 per cent - an aerator mixes air with water 
• putting lagging on your outside pipes will help to avoid burst pipes and leaks in winter

Save water in the garden

There are many ways of saving water in the garden, for example:

• using a watering can rather than a hose will make a huge difference to the amount of water you get through in your garden
• consider buying a water butt to collect rain water for the garden - using rain water saves mains water and the energy used to treat it

• Find out more about saving water in the garden
• Advice on saving water in the garden (opens new window)

Avoid pouring water straight down the drain

Ways to avoid this:

• the cold water that comes through before a tap runs hot can be collected for watering plants
• keep a jug of water in the fridge instead of waiting for the tap to run cold
• turning off the taps when you are brushing your teeth or shaving can save up to five litres a minute

• Get more water saving tips (opens new window)

The wider issue

There is less water available per person in the UK than in Spain or Portugal. The more water used in our homes, the less is available in rivers, lakes and natural wetlands - threatening wildlife and the environment. For example, when water levels in rivers fall, food sources for birds can be lost, and oxygen levels can fall dangerously low for fish.

Domestic water is also treated before and after use, and heating water accounts for a lot of the energy used in homes, so the more water used, the more energy is needed, contributing to climate change.

• More on waste and resource use

More useful links

• Environment Agency water saving advice (opens new window)
• Consumer Council for Water (opens new window)
• Find your water company (opens new window)
• Waterwise (opens new window)
• Saving water in the garden
• Watch an energy or water saving video (opens new window)