Bournemouth Water is reminding customers of the importance of using water wisely all-year round following the warmest summer on record for the UK.

As the weather cools and more rainfall is expected over the autumn and winter months, water levels across the area are lower than usual for this time of year and everyone can play their part to help levels recover in time for next summer.

To support customers with advice on how to make small changes that can add up to big savings around the house – also saving money for customers on a water meter – Bournemouth Water has launched a new campaign: Every Drop Counts – Come Rain or Shine.

As well as practical tips for saving water, the campaign supports customers with advice around water meters, checking for leaks and information on what Bournemouth Water is doing to help storage refill over the winter.

This includes how its teams on the ground are working hard to drive down leakage.

As well as fixing leaks on its own network, around 30% of water loss in the region comes from pipework that belongs to customers, and Bournemouth Water is working hard to help customers find these leaks and is supporting them with repairs.

Did you know?

  • It takes about 8 litres to fill a washing-up bowl, but 9 litres every minute if you wash up under a running tap. That adds up fast!
  • A bath takes around 80 litres of water to fill – whereas a swift shower can use less than half as much.

Kim Williams, Bournemouth Water’s Head of Water Resources and Water Efficiency, said:

“Typically, in summer the region sees lower rainfall but higher demand for water. In the colder months, there’s more rain and less demand, so water levels can recover.

“A really hot, dry summer like the one we’ve just experienced puts more strain on water resources and unless there’s a very wet autumn and winter, we might not make up the shortfall. Using just a little less water in the colder months helps resources to recover, so we can start next summer with levels as good as possible.”

Toilets are one of the biggest water users in the home with around 25% of a household’s daily water use getting flushed away.

Simple steps like checking for leaks, using the right flushing type on dual flush toilets, and reducing the space in older cisterns to reduce the amount of water used with every flush can all add up.

The average leaky loo, for example, could waste the same amount of water that an average household uses in a day.

Top tips on saving water in your home

Washing-up tips

  • Wash glasses and cleaner items first – this keeps the water fresher for longer
  • Scrape, don’t rinse – scrape food waste into the bin instead of rinsing plates to save water
  • Use one mug or glass all day – no need for a fresh one every time
  • Recyclables just need a quick rinse or wipe – they don’t have to be spotless.


Stay water-wise at the sink

  • Fix drippy taps as soon as you spot them – even a slow drip can waste lots of water over time
  • Know where your stop tap is – usually under the kitchen sink. If a pipe bursts, you’ll be able to turn the water off quickly.