The ninth annual Water Saving Week, organised by Waterwise, is taking place between the 12th and 16th May 2025.
As a country, our water usage has continued to rise each year. In total we each use about 150 litres every day, and this is likely to keep going up.[1]
This year, Waterwise are celebrating with the theme ‘Small Waste, Big Impact: Be a Water Saving Hero’, and are asking people to become real-life water-saving heroes.
How can I save water in my home?
- Save water when washing your clothes by only putting the washing machine on when you have a full load. This maximises water efficiency and reduces the number of washes you need to do. A full load uses less water per item, so it’s the smart way to save. Many machines offer water-saving cycles, using less water and energy whilst still getting your clothes clean.
- Keep an eye on your tap usage. Turn off the tap whilst brushing your teeth or washing dishes. A running tap wastes over six litres per minute[2] so every second counts. A low-flow aerator can help reduce water flow without sacrificing water pressure – an easy, inexpensive way to make your taps more efficient.
- Trim off a minute and save litres on your shower usage. Why not set a timer or play your favourite song to encourage you to cut down on your shower time, saving litres of water in the process?
- Consider your dishwasher usage. Like with the washing machine, always wait for a full load before running your dishwasher. Modern dishwashers are water-efficient, but they’re designed to work best when they’re packed to capacity. Most dishwashers today are powerful enough to clean dishes without needing to pre-rinse. Scrape off large food scraps, but let your dishwasher do the rest. Check if your machine has a water saving mode too.
- Find and fix sneaky leaks. Regularly inspect your taps, pipes and toilets for any signs of leaks. Even small, slow leaks can waste litres of water over time. To check if your toilet is leaking, drop a few drops of food colouring in the tank and wait 15 minutes. If the colour appears in the bowl, you have a leak that needs fixing.
What happens if I’m struggling to pay my water bill?
If you owe money to your water supplier, they will likely take action to get you to pay what you owe. Whilst your water supplier can’t legally disconnect or restrict your water supply, they can take you to court to pay or get money deducted from your benefits to pay your bills and debt.
We recommend in the first instance contacting your water supplier to make a plan with them to pay what you can afford.
What you can do next
If you are struggling with debts call us on 0800 072 1206. We’re open from 8am – 8pm Monday to Friday and 9am – 3pm on Saturdays.
Alternatively, you can visit our www.payplan.com/police to speak to us via live chat or for more information.
[1] Customer water use – Ofwat 2 The quick fix way to cut water waste at home | Water UK