Website of the UK government

Installing a low-flush or dual-flush toilet

Over half of people in the UK say they are trying to cut down on their water usage

Toilet flushing accounts for about a third of household water usage. You probably flush away as much water in a day as you drink in a whole month. There are many things you can do to cut this down:

• when buying a new toilet, get a water-saving, low-flush or dual flush toilet
• install a water displacement device (sometimes called a 'hippo') in the cistern of a higher flush toilet - you will reduce the amount of water used for each flush, typically by one or two litres. Most water companies provide free displacement devices for their customers
• fit a variable flushing device to existing higher flush toilets - this will give you a choice of flush volumes to help save water

• More on water efficient toilets from the Environment Agency Opens new window

Switch to showers

A quick shower can use much less water than a bath. But power showers can use more water than a bath in less than five minutes. Think about:

• fitting a water-efficient shower head to your existing shower. This can reduce the amount of water you use by a further 30 per cent without compromising shower performance (these should not be fitted to electric showers, as this can lead to overheating of the water)
• avoiding high volume power showers - you can easily use more water than if you had a bath

• Saving water for washing Opens new window

Use water-efficient appliances

Half-load cycles use much more than half the energy and water of a full load

The amount of water consumed by dishwashers and washing machines varies considerably.

All new dishwashers and washing machines have a European (EU) energy label which will tell you how much water they user per wash, as well as how energy efficient they are. Things you might like to consider are:

• if you have a choice, look for a machine that uses less than 50 litres per wash
• try looking for a dishwasher that uses less than 15 litres per wash
• make sure your dishwasher or washing machine is fully loaded before you switch it on - half-load cycles use much more than half the energy and water of a full load

• UK dishwashers ranked by water efficiency Opens new window
• UK washing machines ranked by water efficiency Opens new window
• Find out more about the EU energy label Opens new window
• Get more advice on water-efficient appliances Opens new window

Upgrade your plumbing

Things to think about are:

• fixing drips - a dripping tap or overflow can waste a lot of water (just 2 drips a second adds up to about 26 litres of water a day), but a new washer costs just a few pence and can be fitted in minutes
• fitting aerator or spray ends to washbasin taps can reduce water consumption by up to 50 per cent - an aerator mixes air with water 
• putting lagging on your outside pipes will help to avoid burst pipes and leaks in winter

Save water in the garden

There are many ways of saving water in the garden:

• using a watering can rather than a hose will make a huge difference to the amount of water you use in your garden - a hose can use more water in an hour than a family of four uses in a day
• consider buying a water butt to collect rain water for the garden - using rain water saves mains water and the energy used to treat it

• Find out more about saving water in the garden
• Advice on saving water in the garden Opens new window

Avoid pouring water straight down the drain

Ways to avoid this:

• the cold water that comes through before a tap runs hot can be collected for watering plants
• keep a jug of water in the fridge instead of waiting for the tap to run cold
• turning off the taps when you are brushing your teeth or shaving can save five litres a minute

• Get more water saving tips Opens new window

The wider issue

There is less water available per person in the UK than in Spain or Portugal. The more water used in our homes, the less is available in rivers, lakes and natural wetlands - threatening wildlife and the environment. For example, when water levels in rivers fall, food sources for birds can be lost, and oxygen levels can fall dangerously low for fish.

Domestic water is also treated before and after use, and heating water accounts for a lot of the energy used in homes. The more water you use, the more energy is needed, contributing to climate change.

• More on waste and resource use

More useful links

• Environment Agency water saving advice Opens new window
• Consumer Council for Water Opens new window
• Find your water company Opens new window
• Waterwise Opens new window
• Saving water in the garden
• Watch an energy or water saving video Opens new window