Tap tips tohelp conserve water

Check that your home doesn’t have leaks. Fix any dripping taps, cisterns or pipes;

Don’t let the tap run: Brushing your teeth with the tap running can use six litres of water a minute. Brushing your teeth with the tap off will use just one litre;

Avoid baths, take showers instead. A bath uses around 80 litres of water, compared with a seven-minute shower using 49 litres.

Ideally, take a shorter shower to help conserve supplies;

Don’t use a powerhose to clean the driveway, and avoid washing the car until the current dry spell is over;

Use a basin to wash fruit and vegetables. Use the water caught in the basin to water plants and flowers in the garden;

Avoid using a hose in the garden. Use a watering can instead, and don’t water the lawn – the grass will recover soon after the rain begins to fall again;

In the kitchen, always ensure the dishwasher and washing machine are fully loaded.

A washing machine uses an average of 65 litres of water per cycle, while a dishwasher uses around 20 litres per cycle. If they are fully loaded, you conserve water but will also reduce your energy bill.

Around one-third of all water use in the home is for flushing the toilet. Larger cisterns can work with a smaller flush. Put a displacement device into the cistern, such as a brick, which will save water – but make sure it’s out of the way of moving parts;

If filling a paddling pool, don’t put in more water than necessary.