From Tap to Turf: Cut Your Water Bills in Half
Our water companies in England are monopolies, so you can’t switch to someone else (in Wales, the water company is non-profit and has much better reviews, unlike some of ours that are presently not doing their job properly, regarding better sewage treatment).
Water bills are not just made up of how much water you use, but also fixed charges, local taxes and fees for stormwater management.
You can make complaints to Ofwat, but that’s about it. So it’s more empowering (and better for the planet) to get creative and find ways to save water yourself, rather than sit at home wondering how to pay for rising energy bills.
Fix water 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 (it will cost less than the resulting bill). A leaking tap can really up your bills. Look for drips or pooling water, and ensure no hoses or sprinklers leak.
To check your home is free from water leaks, take a reading of your water meter, then wait 30 minutes (don’t use any water). Take a second reading. If there’s a change, you have a leak somewhere.
To check for toilet leaks, wipe the back of your pan dry with bathroom tissue (30 minutes after you last flushed). Then place a dry sheet of paper across the back of the pan, leave for 3 hours. If the paper is wet, your loo leaks!
Hippo the Watersaver!
Hippo the Watersaver 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.
Repair leaky pipes
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.
Water-saving showerheads
New showers should be find. Older showers may benefit from a water-saving showerheads (which aerate so it’s like a rain shower but saves money). To check if you need one:
Place a 2-litre container on the shower floor. If it takes less than 12 seconds to fill when shower is running on full, you could benefit from a low-flow shower, which is easily replaced.
If you need one, your water board may offer one for free. Always use a qualified electrician to fit one. Always check as some are not suitable for certain showers or gravity-fed systems.
If your showerhead is clogged with limescale, Mira has a post on how to fix (and prevent) using cleaning vinegar (instructions are different for fixed showerheads). Learn how to fix a dripping showerhead.
Update appliances (if you can)
When time comes to replace, go for new appliances (dishwashers and washing machines). All new brands (even budget ones) save more water, than older appliances.
Centre for Alternative Technology has good info on greywater recycling (treated water from sinks, baths and washing machines, be sure to use unscented biodegradable soaps and laundry powder). Not doing so could cause algal blooms in ponds and rivers.
Hippo the Watersaver saver
Hippo the Watersaver is a simple polyrethene bag to save water bills, by reducing the amount of water used each time you flush. Most new toilets are pretty water-efficient so won’t need one. But for older homes and public buildings, this little affordable device can save millions of gallons of water collectively, and therefore on bills.
The typical family uses 70% of their water in bathrooms, with flushing toilets accounting for around 30% of household water bills. Each time an oldler toilet is flushed with Hippo, you save up to 3 litres of water. As well as reducing carbon footprint and saving money, especially as most homes and offices now use water meters.
The UK has around 45 million toilets, which collectively use 2 billion litres of water each day, and yet only a tenth of these are water-efficient models that use 6 litres or less of water.
The average toilet uses around 9 litres per lish, and if everyone with older toilets used them, this could save a collective 600 million litres of water per day, and over 65 million kg of carbon dioxide.
This saving would reduce the same amount as all UK aviation traffic. As the energy used to pump, heat and treat water in the average family home over one year, produces the same carbon as a return flight from London to New York.
Which Hippo to choose?
There are two versions:
- Hippo 9 is if you use a 13 or standard 9 litre cister. This is the simplest and most effective way to cut your water usage.
- Hippo 7 is for slim-line 9 litre and smaller cistersns, which will save up to 2 litres per flush, and again reduce your water bills and carbon footprint.
If you are not sure which one to buy, flush your cistern, then count the seconds it takes to empty. The number of seconds is a rough guide to the cistern size. If you are still uncertain, just pop off the lid and try a Hippo in it. There is a selection on guide online, if you need help.
How to fit a Hippo
It’s easy, you don’t even need a plumber. The pack includes installation, and anyone from older teenagers to seniors can fit them. Just remove the cistern lid, submerge the Hippo in the water and position under the ball cock. If your cistern has no ball cock, place in the available space instead.
The Hippo is designed so that the water does not go stale, as there is a small hole so each time the toilet is flushe,d a small amount of water comes out, and is replaced by fresh water.
If you move house, you can move it and install it another cistern. But as it only costs a few pounds, you could leave it for the new residents. And just buy another one when you move (a few greener councils may even supply them for free to local residents).
So far, over 11 million Hippos have been sold, and they pay for themselves within 8 to 12 weeks. Saving around 325 a year on bills, or a £3000 savings for businesses with an average 1000 employees (saving around £3 per worker).
The company actively works with wholesalers to sell them both here and overseas. It’s even now resident in the Houses of Parliament, Buckingham Palace and the White House. Invented by an Englishman and made in the UK!
Water-saving garden tips
To avoid evaporation, water plants early morning or late evening.
Many plants (including lilies and sago palm) are toxic to pets (even if a tail brushes past). Also avoid facing foliage to outdoor gardens, to help stop birds flying into windows.
EvenGreener water butts are made from quality recycled materials, with locks to keep all the family safe. You may need help connecting them using the Universal Rain Trap (this fits most downpipes – not suitable for cast iron downpipes – place on a flat even surface, not soil or grass).
Avoid open water barrels near children/pets (drowning hazards & stagnant water can attract mosquitoes).
The Water-Smart Garden is a book that covers water-efficient methods of harvesting rainwater, drip irrigation and drought-resilient plants. And building swales to redirect rainwater. Avoid cocoa, pine and rubber mulch near pets (and fresh compost, due to mould).
