Save water in the bathroom
The bathroom accounts for more than 50% of the water we use at home, making it a great place to save water.
Troublesome toilets
Leaky loos are common, and they can waste up to 400 litres of water a day. The good news is that leaks are often easy to sort out. Here’s what you need to know:
Dual-flush toilets save water by letting you use less water to flush wees. BUT they rely on a rubber seal to keep water in the cistern. Limescale and wear and tear often mean the valve leaks a constant trickle into the toilet.
How to spot it:
- Order a free LeakyLoo strip to check if your toilet leaks
- You can also place a piece of toilet tissue against the back of the pan – a leak will make it drift downward
Buffaloo
A four-minute power or mixer shower uses around 60 litres of water – almost as much as filling a bath. Using an electric shower cuts down on water use.
To save even more water, use a water-saving shower head – either an aerator (which mixes in tiny air bubbles) or a regulator (which limits the flow of water without a noticeable impact).
Four-minute timer
A minute less in the shower could save £30 per person per year on bills. Unless you prefer cold showers (brrrr!) you’ll also save on the energy used to heat the water.
To use the timer, just flip when you turn the shower on, and make sure you’re out by the time the sand runs out. A suction cup holds the timer to your tiles or shower screen for convenience.
Water-regulating shower head
On average, showers account for one quarter of household water use. In most homes, water pressure changes from day to day – you won’t notice the difference.
A water-regulating shower head limits the amount of water that can be used per minute, so that fluctuating water pressure doesn’t result in more water being used. The device just fits inside your existing shower head – you won’t notice the difference but you’ll save water over time.
Tap aerator
You may also be able to fit regulators to your basin taps. These limit flow rate to around 5 litres per minute, ratrher than the standard 10 litre per minute flow rate.
Many fittings come with an aerator that adds bubbles to water, giving the impression of increased volume so you get the same great wash with less water.