How to save water

Here’s our top 5 tips to get you on your way to reducing your water usage by around 20 litres a day, saving you almost £25 a year.

1. Old toilet cisterns (pre-1993) can use up to 9 litres of water a flush. Reduce this by a third using a water-saving Hippo. And throw cotton wool and tissues in the waste bin rather than flushing them down the toilet.
2. Half-load programmes on dishwashers and washing machines use more than half the water and energy of a full load. So wait until the machines are full before switching them on. And consider buying a water-efficient washing machine and dishwasher.
3. Brushing your teeth or shaving with the tap running wastes almost 9 litres of water a minute. Why not brush your teeth first while waiting for the water to get hot, then wash or shave after filling the basin.
4. A five minute shower uses around a third less water than a bath, though remember a power shower can use more water than a bath in less than five minutes. Why not turn off the shower while you soap up, use a water efficient showerhead, or monitor how long you spend with our shower timer.
5. Keep a bottle or jug of water in the fridge instead of running taps until the water runs cold.

Share your great ideas how to save water, by sending us an email.

For more ideas to save water, here’s an alphabet of ways adapted courtesy of BBC NewsOnline, Thames Water’s Waterwise campaign and The Environment Agency

A dripping tap could waste as much as 90 litres of water a week.

Brushing your teeth with the tap running wastes almost 9 litres of water a minute. Turn the tap off while you're brushing. Or better still, rinse out from a beaker instead.

Cool water kept in the fridge means you won't have to run the tap for ages to get a cold drink.

Don't use your washing machine until you've got a full load. The average wash needs about 95 litres of water. A full load uses less water than 2 half loads.

Every time you boil an egg save the cooled water for your houseplants. They'll benefit from the nutrients released from the shell. If you run out of plants, why not tip the water into a water butt. Alternatively, don't eat so many eggs.

Fit a Hippo water-saving device in your cistern and save up to three litres a flush.

Grow your grass a little longer. It will stay greener than a close mown lawn and need less watering.

Hoeing stimulates the growth of plants, reduces water loss from the soil surface and removes weeds that take up valuable water and nutrients.

Installing a water meter can save water and money by monitoring how much you use.

Just taking a five minute shower every day, instead of a bath, will use a third less water, saving up to 400 litres of water a week. And you can monitor how long you spend in the shower with our shower timer.

Kettles should be filled with enough water for your needs but not to the brim. This will reduce your fuel bills too. Check out our Eco-kettle which indicates clearly how much water you need.

Love your kids? Then teach them the value of water at an early age with our Science is Wet kit.

Mulch for moisture in the garden. Adding a layer of tree bark, compost, coconut husks or even newspaper keeps the sun off the soil and retains precious moisture. Alternatively, bury a mulch sheet just below the surface of the soil.

No further watering is usually required for established trees and shrubs.

Once a week is all the watering your lawn needs even in the hottest weather - for small or difficult-to-reach lawns, check out our Hand Pump Pressure Washer. Over-watering can weaken your lawn by encouraging roots to seek the surface. Remember, water in the evening to reduce evaporation.

Purchasing a water butt will help you to collect rain water for use on the garden. And you can add to it (if we're suffering a hosepipe ban or you're really keen) by emptying the bath water using a collapsible bucket.

Question your local garden centre about the water requirements of different plants. Some thrive in drier conditions.

Replacing a toilet cistern can save water. Toilets manufactured after 1993 use less water per flush. Alternatively, you purchase a dual flush toilet. You'll need to call your plumber to install it.

Sprinklers can be wasteful. It doesn't take long for a sprinkler to soak your lawn thoroughly. A sprinkler can use as much water in an hour as a family of four will use in a day. And water your garden at the coolest part of the day to reduce evaporation, with our Hozelock Water Timer. Alternatively, if you've a small area of grass, why not water using our flexible Hand Pump Pressure Washer.

Tap inserts can reduce tap water use without affecting flow by as much as 70%.

Use the dirty water when cleaning a fish tank on your houseplants. It's rich in nitrogen and phosphorus, which provides an excellent fertiliser.

Very water efficient washing machines are now manufactured - machines with 'A' ratings are the most economical. You'll find that they save on energy too.

Wash your car using a Hand Pump Pressure Washer – it uses less water than a hosepipe and helps remove stubborn dirt. Alternatively, try cleaning your car without water.

Xeriscape means 'to landscape for water conservation.' The idea is to use plants that require less water. You can also utilise objects for decorative effect such as rocks, bricks, benches and gravel.

You can use less water by turning the hot tap down, rather than the cold tap up, if you require cooler water.

Z The end of the alphabet but not the end of water-saving ideas – why not share any you've discovered by sending us an email?

2009 Save Water Save Money Ltd