Are you doing your bit for the environment? Enjoy a greener lifestyle with these top 10 water-saving tips.
If recent summer heatwaves have taught us anything, it's that water is a precious resource which shouldn't be wasted. It's certainly the hot topic on everyone's lips at the moment, with more and more of us becoming aware of the environmental and moral benefits of saving water. However, with around half of all UK households using a water meter to calculate bills, it's not just the environment that can be saved. Indeed, the BBC recently reported that many families are struggling to pay water bills, with one woman so concerned about the cost that she sometimes goes without washing or flushing the toilet.
When redesigning your bathroom, taking water efficiency into account has more or less become a necessity. New bathroom equipment is specifically created with water efficiency at the heart of its design. Using aerated showers and taps, for example, that maintain the same pressure as standard equipment without wasting as much water means that you can create an eco-friendly bathroom, without having to sacrifice your bathroom rituals.
By simply taking more showers than baths, you can save both water and cash.
10 top water-saving tips
However, although this inevitably saves some water, there are still plenty of ways that you can save even more—and therefore even more money. Here are our top ten water saving tips for your bathroom and beyond:
1. Check frequently for leaks
Leaks occur more often than you think and can lead to a lot of water wastage. One of the worst culprits is your toilet cistern, which can run constantly—often, without you even realising it. For ways to identify and remedy this, check out the article we wrote in conjunction with the Bathroom Manufacturer’s Association (BMA): Get lavvy savvy.
2. Reduce the amount of time you spend in the shower
We all like taking a nice long shower here and there, but the trick is viewing it as a bit of a treat. With smart or digital showering systems, you can automatically set your ideal duration.
Save water with a smart or digital showering system, like Aqualisa Q (pictured above)
3. Relax with a nice long bath, just not every day
For those daily washes, taking a quick shower, rather than a deep soak, will save you time and money.
4. Use water-efficient equipment
Aerated shower heads (can save you up to £100 a year) and taps means you get the feeling of the same flow and the same pressure, without wasting the water.
5. Turn off taps
You may not always consider it, but turning your taps off properly can save bucket loads of cash and water.
All Victoria Plum taps come with ceramic disc cartridges, which reduce the risk of drips or leaks forming
6. Don’t throw rubbish down the toilet
Typical examples include cotton pads, makeup tissues and sanitary towels. It may save you a moment but wastes precious water. Put them in the bin instead.
7. Try using a cistern displacement device
Estimates suggest that you could save up to 5,000 litres of water a year. What’s more you can get them for free from most water companies.
8. Buy a toilet with a dual flush system
Dual flush toilet systems come with the option of a longer or shorter flush (usually around 6 and 3 litres respectively). This means you only ever use what you need. In comparison to standard flush systems, this could save you up to 5,000 litres of water every single year.
Many of our toilets come with water-saving dual flushes
9. When you’re having a shave or brushing your teeth, turn the tap off when you don’t need it
Simply by doing it when brushing your teeth can save an amazing 8,500 litres of water a year.
10. Turn the pressure down when you’re taking a shower
You’d be surprised at how much extra water you use when the pressure is on full. If you've got an aerated shower it shouldn't make much difference to feel of the flow.
Discover more ways to save
There are many other ways that you save water, most of the time it comes down to small changes in habits that add up to make a big difference. Check out the rest of our water-saving tips and advice on creating eco bathrooms.
Whilst you're at it, why not find out how you can save energy in your home—or even discover how to keep your home warm.
Discover more about eco bathrooms
If you'd like to find out more, head to our eco bathrooms hub, where you'll discover more ideas and information. You can browse our full eco bathrooms range by clicking on the banner below.
