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Water saving tips - inside the home

Healthy teeth healthy rivers

Remember to turn off the tap while brushing your teeth - a running tap wastes over 6 litres per minute. if the entire adult population of England and Wales remembered to do this, we could save 180 mega litres a day - enough to supply nearly 500,000 homes.

Stop those drips

A dripping tap wastes at least 5,500 litres of water a year: that's enough water wasted to fill a paddling pool every week for the whole summer. If you are on a water meter, mending your dripping tap could save you over £18 a year.

Fill up your dishwasher

Most new dishwashers can use under 18 litres of water to wash 12 or more place settings - this means that a lot of us could save water by using a modern dishwasher, especially if wash up or rinse your dishes under a running tap. If you're in the market for a new dishwasher, have a look at Waterwise's rankings to help you buy a water efficient model.

Drop a hippo in your cistern

About a quarter of all the clean, drinkable water we use in our homes is flushed down a toilet. If you're in the market for a new loo, consider buying a water efficient toilet or one with a dual flush toilet. If your loo is still as good as new, put a hippo or a displacement device into the cistern to save some water. Give your water company a ring; they can give you one of these devices for free.

Bathers beware

A bath typically uses around 80 litres, while a short shower can use as little as a third of that amount. But be aware since many power-showers may actually use more than a bath. You can minimise your water use by reusing your bathwater to water your houseplants or garden.

Short, sharp, showers save water:

By using a shower timer you can increase your awareness of the amount of time you spend in the shower. Try taking shorter showers to reduce the amount of water you use.

Rubbish for rubbish bins

Try to avoid flushing away cotton balls, make-up tissues, and those pesky spiders - throwing them int he bin will cut down on the amount of water that is wasted every flush.

Be prepared for a burst pipe

Check out where your main stop valve is and make sure that you can turn it on and off. If ever a pipe bursts, you'll know how to cut off the flow.

Frigid water

Fill a jug with tap water and leave it to cool in your fridge so you don't have to run the tap for ages just to get a cold drink.

Washing fresh foods

By washing your fruit and veg in a bowl rather than under a running tap, you could cut down on water waste effortlessly and then use the leftover water to feed your houseplants.

Avoid half-load clothes washes:

Before starting your washing machine, wait for a full load - a full load uses less water than two half loads; so, you'll be able to save money on energy and water. If you are looking to buy a new washing g machines we've helped you make your choice by ranking all machines available on the UK market by water efficiency.

Information provided by Waterwise

Find out about water saving tips outside the home

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