Water companies are a monopoly, so you can’t change them. You can make complaints to Ofwat, but that’s about it. So it’s far more empowering (and better for the planet) to get a bit creative and find ways to save water yourself, rather than sit at home wondering how to pay for rising energy bills.
Also read how to save water in your organic garden. For indoor plants, learn toxic plants to avoid near pets (avoid facing indoor foliage to gardens, to help stop birds flying into windows).
Water bills are not just made up of how much water you use (on a meter) but also fixed charge and sometimes local taxes and fees for stormwater management. The best ways to fix high water bills are:
Fix Leaks
Even a small drip will waste a colossal amount of water over time. If you can’t fix a leak yourself, find a reputable plumber. One small job will cost less than paying for a leaking tap. Look for drips or pooling water, and ensure no hoses or sprinklers are leaking.
Some water companies offer free toilet water leak detection strips. If not, then simply wipe the back of your pan dry with bathroom tissue (30 minutes after you last flushed). Place a dry sheet of paper across the back of the pan, leave for up to 3 hours (or overnight if it’s one you don’t use). If the paper is wet, your loo leaks, so call the plumber.
To check your entire home is free from leaks, take a reading of your water meter, then wait 30 minutes (don’t use any water). Take a second reading. Again if there’s a change, you have a leak somewhere, and need to get it checked.
Update Appliances
When time comes to replace, try to go for modern water-saving dishwashers and washing machines. All new brands (even budget ones) save more water than old appliances.
Use Water-Saving Showerheads
- Modern showers save water anyway. But for older showers, water-saving showerheads are easy to fit (use a qualified electrician), and could save you on bills. Which? magazine suggests this test to see if it’s worth the investment.
Place a 2-litre container on the shower floor. If it takes less than 12 seconds to fill when the shower is running on full, you could benefit from a low-flow shower, which is easily replaced. This aerates the water so it’s a bit like a rain shower, which still gives you a nice shower, but with far less water.
Simple Inventions to Save Water
- Hippo the Watersave is good for old toilets (you don’t need water-saving devices for modern cisterns). It’s safer than a brick and simply sits in your cistern, to save water each time you flush. It only costs a few pounds, and some councils even supply them for free.
- Kibosh is a quick way to repair leaky pipes, invented by a qualified plumber. Just fit the clamp around a leaking or burst pipe, and clamp shut. Once fitted, it can be kept in use, until a permanent repair is arranged. Reusable, no tools needed.
- Hero Labs App uses HD ultrasonic technology to check your home for leaks, half a million times each day (a burst pipe can release half a ton of water an hour and damage photos and computer hard drives). This detects leaks and stops them, and can also perform pressure checks on plumbing systems, to detect tiny leaks. The smart shut-off valve then isolates incoming water supply in seconds, containing a problem before it gets worse.
