Website of the UK government

How you can save water

Simple measures make a big difference. These include:

• turn off the tap while brushing your teeth (saves six litres of water a minute)
  
• cut your shower time by one minute (saves up to nine litres)
  
• fit an aerated/water efficient shower head (save up to six litres of water a minute)
  
• use a washing-up bowl instead of washing dishes under the tap (saves up to six litres a minute)
  
• use a watering can in the garden, or hand-wash the car instead of using a hosepipe (16 litres a minute)
  
• use a water-saving bag in the cistern (saves one litre per flush)

Kate Humble who is spear-heading the campaign said: "Simple changes can really add up to a better environment - meaning more water for the wildlife and countryside around us."

Doesn't Britain have plenty of water?

The short answer: No.

Despite our reputation for wet weather, many areas of the UK have less available water per head than parts of France, Italy and Greece. So, we need to change our ways and think of water as a precious resource.

Factors that put pressure on our water resources: 

• population growth
  
• infrastructure development
  
• lifestyle choices
  
• climate change

Environment Minister Huw Irranca-Davies said: "We already take too much water from our rivers and groundwater to meet demand. Wasteful use of water harms our climate for future generations due to the energy used in the supply process."

Further information

• Greener lifestyles

• Water: using less in the garden

• Act on CO2 Opens new window

• Watch an energy or water saving video Opens new window