How to stay afloat with water bills on the rise
Many households will be concerned to see the largest increase to their water bills in almost 20 years from April, when they rise to an average £448 a year. So, what can we do around the house to reduce our water use and the looming bill at the end of the month?
Fit an aerator
“Great to have fitted to your taps and easily bought,” says Stephanie Hurry, head of water efficiency engagement at Waterwise (waterwise.org.uk).
It adds air to the tap so it looks like more water, but is less – and you will use less of it. It makes water go further and reduces your usage.
They are cheap and easy to get hold of (around £8 from B&Q, for example) – what’s not to love?
What about the washer?
“Only running your washing machine once a week at 30 degrees can save you up to £28 a year,” says Ava Kelly, energy-saving expert at Love Energy Savings (loveenergysavings.com).
“Most washing machines and dishwashers have a scheduling system that allows you to delay the start time. By scheduling washes for off-peak hours, you could save 17p for every load of washing, as off-peak rates can be half the cost of peak rates. If you did this for every load, you could save up to £48.60 per year.
“Secondly, wash your clothes on your machine’s ‘eco’ setting. This can reduce water usage by 20-40%, which will make you further savings of between £18.90 and £37.80 a year.”
Shower for less time
Stephanie says: “Cutting down your washing time and keeping showers to just four minutes will reduce your water usage and be better financially and environmentally.”
Use the correct toilet flush
Most toilets are ‘dual flush’ and Stephanie says you should use the small or large, depending on needs.
“Don’t press both. You could waste around five litres per flush by using the wrong one.”
Check for leaks
“Your toilet could actually have a small trickle leak and you may not know. Check by getting a piece of toilet roll, pop it at the back of the pan and see if it is wet the next morning. Getting a plumber to fix this could save hundreds,” says Stephanie.
Tap into dishwasher advice “Dishwashers often use less water than washing by hand. You may leave the tap running when doing your washing up, so don’t, as this is a waste,” says Stephanie.
The same goes for turning off the tap while you’re brushing your teeth.
Use only what you need
Stephanie suggests you can save water by only boiling the kettle with as much water as you need. If boiling veggies or pasta, “save the water to water plants, or make soups with”.
Be aware of baths
“Have a bath an inch or two lower than you normally would and save a bucket of water at the end to water plants or flush toilets,” Stephanie says.
■ By IMY BRIGHTY-POTTS
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