Water Saving Week 2024

The UK has less available water per person than most other European countries. London is drier than Istanbul, and the South East of England has less water available per person than some African countries. Surprised? Climate change, population increases and changes in lifestyle have led to increasing pressure being put on our water supplies. The expected increase in world population of up to 10 billion people will reduce the available freshwater resources by half in 2050.

As a result, it is more important than ever that we take care with how we use water. Taking positive action now can help to ensure that there is enough water to go around, for us, for businesses and for the environment.

This year, the focus of Water Saving Week is how we as individuals can incorporate small water-saving habits into our daily lives. By doing so, we can make a big difference and do our bit to help water conservation nationwide. Our everyday household chores, such as washing up, laundry and even boiling the kettle can have a big impact on the climate.

Did you know that the kitchen accounts for over a fifth of household water consumption? From using water to wash up, run the dishwasher, or even grabbing a glass of water to drink, you might think that there isn’t anything you can do to reduce your water consumption. But there are a few small things we can all do that could make a big impact:

• Choose a dishwasher that matches your household's size to ensure it's always full when in use, maximizing water efficiency.
• Explore the settings on your dishwasher and washing machine. Many modern models offer eco-friendly options such as 'Eco' or 'Economy' settings which can actually be more water efficient than washing up by hand.
• Skip the pre-rinse step before loading dishes into the dishwasher. Modern detergents are highly effective, requiring only a simple scrape before placing them in the dishwasher.
• Make sure you are using the full capacity of your washing machine. Chances are, you aren’t using the machines at full capacity. So, why not chuck a few more shirts and socks in your load?
• If you enjoy a nice cold glass of water, instead of running the cold tap until the temperature cools down, keep refillable bottles in the fridge so you always have cold drinking water available.  
• If you do have to run the tap, catch the water in a washing-up bowl and use it to water your plants (indoor or outdoor)
• Consider installing a water butt in your garden to store rainwater to water your garden with.  You can find a range of water butts to suit a variety of different needs here.
• Got a leaky loo? Leaky loos are one of the most common causes of unexpected high water use for consumers in the UK. A leaky loo wastes between 200 and 400 litres of water per day. If your loo is leaking, make sure to get it fixed quickly. Leaky loos are covered under our partners, Homeserve, plumbing and drainage plus insurance. Find out more here.  

There are loads of other water saving tips for your home and garden on the Waterwise website here. They will also be sharing more helpful tips and easy to follow guides to help you save more water in the kitchen throughout the week itself. From mindful eating to creative uses for leftover water, small changes can have a significant impact. They will be teaming up with Life Before Plastic to provide practical tips through engaging video content to give you new, simple but effective ideas to conserve water at home. Find out more here, or follow along with them on Facebook, X and Instagram.